Cops ensure incident-free Kaanum Pongal on Marina

Police had made elaborate security arrangements to prevent any untoward incident and barricades  erected near the sea front prevented people from bathing in the sea.  Caution boards were also put up on the seashore warning people to stay on the shore. More than 12,000 police personnel were deployed on security duty along the entire coast line from Tiruvotriyur in North Chennai to Neelangarai on  ECR road. 

Apart from round-the-clock patrolling, policemen mounted on horse back patrolled the sea front. Personnel drawn from State police, city police and Home Guards were deployed on security along the beach stretch. 

Police personnel also manned the entire stretch of Kamarajar Salai on the Marina beach where a large number of people turned up to visit the MGR Memorial and Anna Samadhi. All- terrain vehicles were also deployed  at Marina and at Besant Nagar and Elliots Beach to patrol the beach front. Police monitored the crowd from watch towers as the beach front turned out to be the most sought after destination.

Milling crowds were seen in the Children’s Park at Guindy, Arignar Anna Zoological park in Vandalur, theme parks, amusement parks, cinema theatres, and at the All  India Industrial Trade Fair at Island Grounds.

Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services officials said more than 50 firemen from various fire stations, equipped with life jackets, were deployed on the city’s beaches as part of accident-prevention measures. A team of fishermen drawn from surrounding areas and a team of 100 trained swimmers were also kept in readiness as lifeguards to handle any emergency.  

The Coastal Security Group stationed a diving team with three boats at Marina and Elliots Beach to prevent incidents of drowning. The city police was assisted by the Coast Guard and Navy in security arrangements.   

The State Express Transport Corporation and the Metropolitan Transport Corporation operated additional bus services to all major places where people thronged in large numbers. The Southern Railway also operated additional EMU trains  on the Chennai Beach-Tambaram-Chengalpattu-Tirumalpur section, Chennai Central-Arakkonam section, Chennai Beach- Gummudipoondi section and the Chennai Beach-Velacherry  elevated MRTS section.