Mangalore: Are District's Beaches Becoming Killing Fields ?
by Gladson D’Almeida
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MB)
Pics Austin Pinto
- Scores of innocent lives have been claimed by the fatal attraction of the sea
August 2, 2007
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Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts are known for their picturesque charm, surrounded by lush greenery all around. Apart from the greenery, these coastal districts are also blessed with natural and beautiful beaches. People often come to these beaches for diversion or to have some fun time with family and friends.
But these beaches over the years have proved dangerous to the locals as well as the tourists. Scores of young lives have been claimed by the furious tides at Panambur, Suratkal, Someshwar, Maravante and other beaches in the last few years.
Most of the people who come to the coastal region from northern parts of the country as well as inland Karnataka find the local beaches always too enticing to resist the temptation of having a dip. Without even giving a second thought, visitors step into the boisterous sea. They just get carried away by the beauty of these beaches. It tempts people to roll on the sands and loll over the waves. Nothing can prevent the tourists from venturing into the vicious sea. Even scorching heat, violent tides and burning-hot sand cannot hold the people back from venturing into the sea.
Most of the times, it is the tourists who get trapped in deep waters and raging waves. Moreover the victims are mostly those who do not know how to swim. Tourists swarm here in big groups picnics to enjoy and for a stroll and at that moment no one can control them from getting into the sea.
Locals say that despite repeated warnings, tourists venture into the sea. Further, there are caution signs put up at the beaches. Though most of the sign boards are in Kannada, one can find them in English too, which a good number of the tourists can read. There is also a year-wise tally of casualties shown therein at a few places.
There have been complaints from certain tourists who do not know the local language that they cannot read these sign boards. But this cannot be a pretext to cover up the negligence shown by the visitors.
One can find local divers, guards and fishermen who keep instructing and alerting the tourists about the hazards of the sea. But many visitors show a 'devil-may-care' attitude and get into the sea.
Hence, one cannot blame the administration for their laxity. But speaking from the visitors’ point of view, the administration should also be little more careful and should implement some restrictions in order to safeguard the tourists. Only, if certain rules are implemented, then Mangalore can be made as a hotspot for tourists, which everyone is trying to do.
If the administration takes it up lighty, then, people would stop visiting the beaches. There is no point in blaming the sea. Just as it is often said ‘Time and tide waits for none’, as the saying goes. The powerful waves will swallow those who get into them in violation of the instructions.
Most of the people who drown in these beaches happen to be youngsters who come on excursions, picnics or for a stroll. It clearly indicates that a majority of the youth do not obey the advice of the elders. They are at an age when they do not like to be instructed by anyone. Accordingly, it is also a lesson for youngsters that they need to take proper decisions at proper points of time with the guidance of proper and experienced people.
Nevertheless, this is perchance not the time to blame the tourists, administration, locals or anyone for the deaths of hundreds. But it is in fact the time to implement certain planning so that the beautiful, attractive and charming beaches of the district remain a sphere of calm and beauty in the coming years and do not turn into killing fields.
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