Safety measures to be implemented at Thikkodi drive-in beach

The district administration has decided to make necessary safety arrangements at Thikkodi drive-in beach in the backdrop of a recent accident that took four lives.

A meeting chaired by District Collector Snehil Kumar Singh on Friday (January 31) decided to place warning boards in the 250-metre stretch of the beach under the aegis of the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC). Nine local fishermen will be deployed to control the crowd and as temporary lifeguards, until the DTPC’s plan to appoint six lifeguards at the beach is implemented. Thikkodi grama panchayat has been directed to make temporary arrangements for toilets, a room for a security guard and cleaning. The DTPC is constructing toilets and other facilities on the south side of the beach, but it may take a few more months to be completed.

There are also plans to impose a few restrictions outside the 250m stretch, as much as possible. The police demanded proper lighting on the beach immediately.

Deputy Collector (Disaster Management) E. Anitha Kumar, Tahsildar of Koyilandy Jayasree S. Warrier, Deputy Director of Tourism Satyajith Sankar, DTPC Secretary T. Nikhil Das, and secretaries of various local bodies took part in the meeting.