More drownings raise surveillancequestions

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Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google NewsThe death of two engineering students after they drowned off the Elliots Beach recently has brought back an issue that has been plaguing the city for a long time now.Despite police claiming that they have initiated proactive steps to curtail such incidents, at least 20 persons have drowned in the last two years alone, putting a big question on the nature of surveillance on the sea front. Curiously, a majority of the cases of drowning have involved college students or young professionals. Police officials who spoke to City Express said that an array of factors lead to such unfortunate incidents along the beaches despite warning the public. According to the officials, following a spate of such deaths in 2011, it was decided to press into service more personnel and increase surveillance along the beaches.“We looked at the pattern of such incidents, including the timing at which they occurred, and tweaked our surveillance,” said an official in the rank of an Assistant Commissioner. Warning boards were erected in accident-prone zones along the beaches and patrolling extended till10 pm.However, officers said despite the warning signs, college students, especially those coming into the city from outskirts, tend to take it for granted.“Most of these students had no experience in swimming at the sea,” said a police official. Often, with minimum swimming experience, the students, out of peer pressure and sometimes under the influence of alcohol, venture deep into the water and succumb to the strong currents.“The death of two medical students off the coast at Kovalam last July is a classic example. Autopsy revealed that sand had entered their lungs, indicating a struggle in the high tide,” says the officer.However, fishermen from Kovalam and Neelankarai said that police patrolling is not sufficient. “They restrict the patrolling to one part of the beach. The incidents usually occur in stretches that are secluded,” says Kumarimuthu, a fisherman.Also, the proposal of the fishing community to launch joint patrolling has been continuously rejected, they say. “It is only when they find a few people struggling in the waters that they call us for the rescue. We have told them we could help in patrolling as well if the set up could be regularised. But there has been no response,” say a few fishermen.Joint Commissioner S N Seshasai says that no such incidents have occurred following the erection of watch towers and increase in surveillance along the Marina. The officers atop the tower have been given binoculars and walkie-talkie sets for the task.”We are initiating proactive steps to avoid such drowning,” he says.first published:September 19, 2012, 09:04 ISTlast updated:September 19, 2012, 09:04 IST
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The death of two engineering students after they drowned off the Elliots Beach recently has brought back an issue that has been plaguing the city for a long time now.

Despite police claiming that they have initiated proactive steps to curtail such incidents, at least 20 persons have drowned in the last two years alone, putting a big question on the nature of surveillance on the sea front. Curiously, a majority of the cases of drowning have involved college students or young professionals. Police officials who spoke to City Express said that an array of factors lead to such unfortunate incidents along the beaches despite warning the public. According to the officials, following a spate of such deaths in 2011, it was decided to press into service more personnel and increase surveillance along the beaches.

“We looked at the pattern of such incidents, including the timing at which they occurred, and tweaked our surveillance,” said an official in the rank of an Assistant Commissioner. Warning boards were erected in accident-prone zones along the beaches and patrolling extended till10 pm.

However, officers said despite the warning signs, college students, especially those coming into the city from outskirts, tend to take it for granted.

“Most of these students had no experience in swimming at the sea,” said a police official. Often, with minimum swimming experience, the students, out of peer pressure and sometimes under the influence of alcohol, venture deep into the water and succumb to the strong currents.

“The death of two medical students off the coast at Kovalam last July is a classic example. Autopsy revealed that sand had entered their lungs, indicating a struggle in the high tide,” says the officer.

However, fishermen from Kovalam and Neelankarai said that police patrolling is not sufficient. “They restrict the patrolling to one part of the beach. The incidents usually occur in stretches that are secluded,” says Kumarimuthu, a fisherman.

Also, the proposal of the fishing community to launch joint patrolling has been continuously rejected, they say. “It is only when they find a few people struggling in the waters that they call us for the rescue. We have told them we could help in patrolling as well if the set up could be regularised. But there has been no response,” say a few fishermen.

Joint Commissioner S N Seshasai says that no such incidents have occurred following the erection of watch towers and increase in surveillance along the Marina. The officers atop the tower have been given binoculars and walkie-talkie sets for the task.”We are initiating proactive steps to avoid such drowning,” he says.