In the wake of persons drowning in the sea at Kovalam, the district administration has prohibited local residents and tourists from venturing into the sea after 6 p.m.
The decision was taken as part of precautionary measures at a meeting that was convened by District Collector Biju Prabhakar here on Tuesday. Police, Coast Guard and Revenue officials and Church representatives took part in the meeting.
Microphone announcements will be made at risk-prone areas of the beach. Sign boards in multiple languages warning beachgoers will be displayed at various points on the beach.
Better lighting
The area will be illuminated to detect whether anyone approached the rock boulders. Surveillance will be stepped up by establishing a watch tower to prevent persons from entering the sea.
The assistance of the District Collector of Kanyakumari to launch a search operation for the missing persons in Colachel has also been sought.
Deputy Commissioner of Police K. Sanjay Kumar Gurudin and Fort Assistant Commissioner Sudhakaran Pillai were among those present.
Rewards
The district administration has announced rewards for fishermen who assist in search operations for the four missing persons. Mr. Prabhakar said that those assisting the authorities in search operations would not be entangled in legal issues.
Meanwhile, the search operations at Kovalam yielded no results even on Tuesday. Vizhinjan Circle Inspector Stuart Keeler said inclement weather continued to affect the search operations. Heavy rain and rough sea hindered the search operation that that was being undertaken by the Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Marine Enforcement, Coastal Police and local fishermen.
Team for Colachel
The Kovalam police said two unidentified bodies had reportedly been sighted at Colachel, and a team from the Coastal Police Station had set out for Colachel.
Search at Kovalam has not yielded results so far
Steps to be taken to launch search in Colachel
