The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Look before you take a leap into the blue Focus

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Thursday, Nov 22, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Look before you take a leap into the blue Focus

B. Madhu Gopal

“No beach in the city is safe for swimming except the Lawson’s Bay”

Lack of awareness is main cause of death at sea
Alternative zones for beach-lovers needed

Photo: K.R. Deepak

Dangerous pastime: People enjoying a dip in the sea at Ramakrishna Beach on Wednesday. —

VISAKHAPATNAM: The blue waters of the sea and the golden sandy beaches of Visakhapatnam are an irresistible attraction not only to tourists but also to local people. The attraction can sometimes prove fatal when the revellers do not exercise adequate caution. The water depth and intensity of the waves are unpredictable, and sometimes even splashing in the shallow water can snuff out lives.

The worst nightmare that anyone can experience is one’s near dear ones being ‘devoured by the sea’ right under the nose. The unsuspecting victim would first experience a strong wave throwing him off balance or the sand slipping from under his feet and within seconds he is dragged into the deep. Warning boards fail to deter revellers from getting into waist-deep water or even risking a swim against the tide.

While senior citizens and the elderly spend most part of the day playing cards or other games on the sand or under trees, the younger ones look for the refreshing experience of playing in the water. What begins with ‘just wetting the feet’ sometimes leads to boys and girls testing the shallow depths and gradually getting into knee-deep and waist-deep water.

Once they get into the playful mood, they forget the dangers involved and throw caution to the winds. The presence of crowds on the beach sometimes gives them a ‘feeling of safety’ that one person or the other would be an expert swimmer to drag them ashore in the event of any eventuality.

A number of persons drown in sea year after year leaving a permanent void among their family members for the rest of their lives. A couple of years ago, a Russian woman watched helplessly as her husband who went for a swim at the Ramakrishna Beach, drowned. Efforts to save his life proved futile. Another Russian national had died at Rushikonda the same month.Lack of awareness is the main cause of death at sea. team 4, an NGO, had undertaken a poster campaign in November last to warn tourists, sightseers and the local people of the impending danger of getting into the seawater.

“We have plans to develop two lifeguard outposts at R.K. Beach and Rushikonda with the support of corporate companies and the public sector undertakings to purchase some basic equipment like swim gear, power lights and basic resuscitation equipment and medical kits,” says J. Nagi Reddy of team 4.

“People should understand that they shouldn’t play or swim in the sea. Parents should be all the more careful when their children go near the waves. It’s more dangerous than allowing little children to cross the National Highway carelessly and risk being knocked down by fast-moving vehicles,” says Rashtriya Life Saving Society city unit president Sanjeevan Nair. He feels that no beach in the city is safe for swimming except the Lawson’s Bay. Fishermen have identified it as a safe zone to anchor their boats hundreds of years ago. Unfortunately, this beach is in a state of neglect due to dumping of wastes and open defecation. “Instead of simply putting up caution boards, the authorities concerned should be in a position to show alternatives to beach-lovers to chill out. The Ramakrishna Beach is one spot where thousands of people congregate during festivals and other events, particularly Maha Sivaratri. During those times it would be difficult even if a few lifeguards are posted at the beach,” he says.

“We have identified about 200 fishermen who can be of help during emergencies especially during festivals like Sivarathri when thousands of people take a dip in the sea near Ramakrishna Beach. However, no one has approached us for any assistance in this regard so far,” says the Assistant Director of Fisheries M.A. Yakub Basha.

“Fishermen are deployed by the GVMC in coordination with the Police Department during the immersion of Lord Ganesh and goddess Durga,” he added.

“ The services of expert swimmers are being utilised during immersion of idols after festivals. Five ‘danger boards’ have been put up at R.K. Beach, YMCA Beach and Rushikonda, ” says DCP (L&O) K.V.V. Gopala Rao.

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