In the last year, India has seen a tragic spree of deaths by drowning. It’s estimated that drowning is the cause of at least 80 deaths a day as well as being one of the leading causes of child deaths. Unsurprisingly, these accidents usually occur when unwary travelers decide to take a dip in the sea without fully understanding the risks involved and then, when tragedy strikes there are little to no emergency services to handle the situation. It’s clear that India needs a new standard of safety when it comes to water related injuries.
In June, 2014, there were two separate incidents on the beaches of Vizag where three people lost their lives. In response, the district administration of Vizag has decided to take on a revolutionary new project as a preventive measure. They plan to be the first city in India to introduce the concept of Sea Pools. These man-made, saltwater swimming pools that are adjacent to the ocean eliminate all the risks posed by sea currents and will, in theory, reduce water-related deaths.
This concept has been quite common in some areas of the world, notably Cornwall, England where natural as well as man-made tidal pools have made the area a beloved holiday destination for families. The idea of being able to experience the sea without putting yourself or your children at risk has made Sea Pools an irreplaceable part of the Cornish landscape. The San Alfonso Del Mar in Chile is also a very famous example of a sea pool and it has actually won the title of ‘The Biggest Pool in The World’. Another popular Sea Pool is at the world famous Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. There are many such saltwater pools across Australia and for a continent that’s so attached to water sports, these pools have been a blessing. In the US and South Africa too, above ground saltwater pools are common to prevent swimmers from shark attacks. All these locations have become popular holiday destinations so clearly substituting the ‘Sea experience’ for Sea Pools doesn’t mean you have to compromise on fun.
The projects planned in Vizag are set to be spread along the 23 kilometre stretch of coastline and will be located at Rushikonda, Mangamaripeta, Sagaranagar and Lawson’s Bay which are considered some of the safer beaches for bathing in city. Engineers of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Council will collaborate with the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Board to create these four pilot projects. Following last year’s incident the Government was put under a lot of pressure and they estimate that 465 people have drowned along that coast in the last 10 years. It’s an admirable project that will hopefully save many lives and after the horrors faced this seems the best approach to take to protect people but still allow them to enjoy the thrills and excitement of the sea.
Feature Image Courtesy: madeonwater.com