The absence of proper security arrangements has been posing a serious threat to the safety of the tourists visiting the Alappuzha beach. The shortage of trained lifeguards, coupled with the lack of proper safety equipment and other facilities puts the beach in the ‘danger zone’ in the evenings.
Thousands of tourists from across the state, as well as the neighbouring states and even abroad, visit the beach every day to enjoy the sea and the sunset, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state. However, only two or three lifeguards have been deployed on the beach to ensure the safety of the large number of tourists.
A number of accidents occurred on the beach in recent times, with the latest being the drowning of three children who had come to visit the beach from Idukki. A few months ago, a boy from Alappuzha also drowned in the sea.
The few lifeguards currently available on the beach find it difficult to manage the tourists. The undisciplined behaviour of some of them adds to the worries.
“On every evening, the lifeguards are forced to move the visitors away from the water as large waves hit the beach after the sunset. The absence of proper lighting is also a problem. On occasions when the crowd is unmanageable, the lifeguards call the Coastal Police to handle the visitors,” said Rajesh, a regular visitor of the beach and a native of Alappuzha.
“Tourists usually get attracted to the sea and venture into the water ignoring the dangers, leading to accidents. There is no notices on the beach, which is one of the longest beaches in the State, to warn the visitors about the accident spots,” he said.
The District Tourism Promotion Council(DTPC), and the State Government have appointed only five lifeguards on the beach. Though the Tourism Department has fixed lights in the area, they are away from the beach.
“The DTPC is planning to appoint more lifeguards for the safety of tourists, immediately. More warning signs will be placed on the beach. The DTPC has submitted a letter to the authorities to appoint more life guards on a permanent basis,” DTPC Secretary C Pradeep said.