Drownings rise at beaches; visitors ignore warnings, not enough divers

Time of India

15 hours ago

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Kochi: The drowning incidents at the district's beaches, including of two Yemeni students at Valappu on Monday, have raised serious safety concerns and once again highlighted the need for adequate deployment of swimmers or divers near prominent beach destinations.
The 13 major and minor beaches in Ernakulam, where lifeguards are insufficient, have been witnessing repeated drowning incidents. The Yemenis — on an excursion from a Coimbatore college — went missing after venturing into the sea to take a bath around 12.30pm on Monday. A 21-year-old, part of a three-member group, drowned at Puthuvype while another two persons, belonging to an 11-member group, went missing at Cherai.
"The rising drowning incidents are mainly due to a lack of awareness about the dangers of sea swimming," said Sebastian of Kochi-Chellanam Janakeeya Vedi. "Groups of young people often visit beaches and many of them who are under the influence of alcohol ignore local residents' warnings," he said.
Sebastian said 11 people drowned at Puthenthodu Beach alone in recent years. "With Fort Kochi Beach polluted, more people are now flocking to Chellanam and Kannamaly beaches.
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However, most of these beaches lack lifeguards. The northern part of Puthenthodu Beach is dangerous especially during rough weather, but visitors pay no heed to warnings from local fishers," he said. Sebastian added that police patrol in the area is only occasional.
Even after repeated incidents, swimmers or divers are not deployed properly at many beaches where hundreds gather on weekends and during special occasions.
District tourism promotion council secretary Lijo John said tourism authorities have posted 32 lifeguards at Munambam, Cherai and Fort Kochi beaches, which have been officially declared as tourism destinations. He said tourism department cannot deploy lifeguards at other beaches as it is the responsibility of the coastal police and respective local bodies.
The tourism department also plans to deploy lifeguards at Kuzhippilly Beach as it has become a major tourism destination.
"We have put up signboards and banners at all major beaches aiming to prevent drowning accidents," said a source at the office of tourism deputy director, Ernakulam.
Coastal police, meanwhile, said that while they have been deploying personnel at beaches, it is not practical to carry out continuous patrolling everywhere at all beaches simultaneously due to a shortage of adequate manpower. "For instance, since we are heading into a long weekend, we have deployed police personnel at all main beaches in the district. At the same time, it is important that visitors listen to the residents and other authorities.
Visitors should think twice before entering unfamiliar waters and stay away from water bodies when they are inundated," said a coastal police official.
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