Better coastal safety, creating awareness can reduce riptide deaths: IGP

Research institutions, enforcement agencies and government departments should work in coordination to identify rip currents and minimise loss of life along the coast, Inspector General of Police (Visakhapatnam Range) and FAC of Coastal Security Police Gopinath Jatti said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a national seminar on ‘Strategies for Coastal Safety and Rip Current Management’ organised by the Department of Meteorology and Oceanography at Andhra University, Mr. Jatti stressed the need for continuous monitoring, public awareness and effective dissemination of scientific research to improve coastal safety.

He said rip tides continued to claim lives in Andhra Pradesh every year and underlined the need for sustained efforts to reduce fatalities. Public awareness, adherence to safety advisories and behavioural change were critical to preventing accidents, he said, cautioning people against entering hazardous coastal stretches or bathing in unsafe areas.

He added that warning signboards were being installed at vulnerable locations.

Calls for better forecasting

Andhra University Vice-Chancellor G.P. Raja Sekhar called for research that directly benefits society and stressed the importance of creating awareness on methods of escaping rip tides. He advocated improved forecasting and early warning systems and greater integration of technology and policy measures to enhance coastal safety.

ISRO scientist S.V.V. Arun Kumar explained how Artificial Intelligence was being used to identify rip-current-prone areas and support measures aimed at preventing accidents and loss of life.