Improving beach surveillance priority of new city police chief

Thiruvananthapuram: Improving

surveillance

along coastal areas is one of the top priorities of S Surendran who took charge as the city police commissioner on Friday.

He was responding to the recent drowning of youths in unattended spots along the city coastline.

Speaking to TOI, Surendran said the city has a long coastline with many secluded and unattended spots that have become favourite hangout spots of teenagers and youngsters. Strengthening the tourism police wing by adding more personnel was a possible solution to ensure effective surveillance along the coastline, he said. “Talks will be held with authorities concerned in this regard,’’ Surendran said.

The city has witnessed as many as five deaths following drowning in the sea in the first 10 days of the new year. These include the four teenagers who drowned in the sea at Edayar near Panathura on January 1 and the 22-year-old who drowned at Arattukuzhi near Kazhakootam on January 9.

Some of the other vulnerable spots are Thottam beach, Vizhinjam Township and Azhimala beach under Vizhinjam police station limits and the stretch of coastline between Kochu Veli and Pallithura under Thumba police station limits. While major beaches such as Sanghumugham and Kovalam has surveillance by police and life guards, the lesser-known beaches are out of the radar of police and tourism department.

According to Thumba police, barring beach near Kochu Veli Church, most of the coastline under their limits are mostly deserted and are considered vulnerable for drowning.

The commissioner said ensuring proper surveillance and prompt intervention was the key in preventing such accidents. Talks would be held with representatives of local residents, voluntary organizations and other stakeholders to discuss what all were needed to be done to prevent such mishaps. Possibilities of establishing local surveillance cameras would also be looked into, the commissioner said.

At Kazhakootam Cyber City police subdivision, police have initiated steps to make Arattukuzhi beach safe for people.

Kazhakootam Cyber City assistant commissioner R Anilkumar said police have reached out to the panchayat authorities to install warning boards on the beach. “The sea here is characterised by frequent formation of whirlpools in the waves,” Anilkumar said. Even though the sea might appear calm, the sudden whirlpools could pose serious threat to the swimmers. Police intended to convey this to the people visiting the beach through warning boards.