Over 16,000 police personnel deployed for Kaanum Pongal celebrations in Chennai
Chennai will witness unprecedented security arrangements on January 17, as more than 16,000 police personnel and 1,500 Home Guards are set to be deployed across the city ahead of Kaanum Pongal, which marks the culmination of the four-day Pongal festivities in Tamil Nadu.
Acting on instructions from Chennai City Police Commissioner A. Arun, the city police have put in place elaborate measures to ensure public safety, crowd control and accident prevention, especially at popular tourist and recreation spots.
A massive deployment comprising personnel from the Tamil Nadu State Police, Greater Chennai Police and Home Guards will be undertaken. Police will be stationed both in uniform and in plain clothes, with special focus on the Marina Beach, which is expected to attract lakhs of visitors from across the State. The entire stretch of Kamarajar Salai will be under strict surveillance as large crowds are expected to visit the memorials of MGR, J. Jayalalithaa, C.N. Annadurai and M. Karunanidhi.
Similar arrangements will be in place at Besant Nagar’s Elliot’s Beach and other coastal areas.
To enhance beach-front security, all-terrain vehicles will patrol the sands at Marina and Elliot’s Beach, while mounted police on horseback will monitor the shoreline.
Temporary barricades have been erected to regulate crowd movement and prevent people from entering the sea. Authorities have banned sea bathing, and caution boards warning the public of rough sea conditions will be prominently displayed. Rescue teams will be stationed at strategic locations to respond swiftly in case of emergencies caused by tidal waves.
The Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services will deploy over 50 trained firemen equipped with life jackets at various beaches as part of accident-prevention measures. Additionally, teams of local fishermen and 100 trained swimmers will remain on standby as lifeguards. Rescue boats and emergency response units will be kept ready to handle any untoward incidents.
Advanced surveillance measures have also been rolled out. Watch towers have been installed at multiple vantage points along the beach front, and police will monitor crowd movement using drones. Loudspeakers and public address systems will be installed at strategic locations to make announcements and help trace missing children in crowded areas. To further assist in child safety, police will issue wrist ID bands carrying details of children and their parents at three designated assistance booths along the beach.