Under the plan, officials at the disaster management cell will be able to track the live feed from beaches and warn people entering the sea through the to-be-installed public address system
Alarmed by fatalities involving youths venturing into the sea despite inclement weather, the BMC has decided to install loudspeakers at the city's beaches and connect the existing CCTV cameras on the seafronts to its disaster management cell.
Under the plan, officials at the disaster management cell will be able to track the live feed from beaches and warn people entering the sea through the to-be-installed public address system.
IA Kundan, additional municipal commissioner, the move is aimed at improving safety at the beaches. "Currently, our lifeguards call out to people in trouble. But their voice doesn't always reach a long distance. We, therefore, decided to set up the loudspeakers to make the warnings more effective."
She said they are worried about youngsters as many youths do not listen to the lifeguards even when there is a high tide. "For such people, this loudspeaker system will help in rescue immediately. We have to save maximum lives," said Kundan.
Most drowning incidents are reported during monsoon. "Youngsters get busy and forget the nature of the sea. During a crisis, our technology will be useful," said a disaster management official, requesting anonymity.
Kudan said there are 5,000 CCTV cameras across the city. "Most of them are installed at the chronic waterlogging spots. If there is flooding, the ward officer concerned and his team are told start draining out water by pumps. We have to use the technology effectively," she said.
BMC's disaster control office has all the hi-tech facilities. "If any chronic spot does not come under the BMC jurisdictions, then the concerned other government authority has been informed," said a disaster management officer.
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