CHENNAI: The Kovalam Fishermen’s Village saw strong sea incursions down three electric poles on the beach, with villagers also experiencing a particularly close sea near their huts.
Residents of the village 40 km south of Chennai, say that sea incursions have been threatening the hamlet for a while and on Wednesday, three electric poles lined up alongside a small beach road collapsed in the high waves. The road along which the poles were lined was washed away just two days ago.
“There was a sand bar about 200 metres from the shore less than a year back. But ever since it was washed away, there has been increasing sea incursion,” said M Murthy, a resident.
According to residents, 50 houses are particularly vulnerable. “Some of them have already been brushed by the edge of large waves. The sea has also come close to a makeshift stone embankment on the shoreward side of the washed away road,” said Murthy, the elderly villager.