15k cops on ground, drones in sky for Kaanum Pongal security

For the first-time, drones will be used to monitor the beaches and check for the miscreants. Special cameras will also be in place to calculate the number of people visiting.

The police have erected wooden barricades across the three-kilometre stretch on Marina beach to prevent people from venturing into the sea. Thirteen watchtowers have been set up for better monitoring of the crowds. Police personnel will watch the crowd with the help of binoculars and alert the teams on the ground if required.

A mounted force consisting of 16 horses and four all-terrain vehicles will also be kept ready to patrol the beach. A fire and rescue team with 10 personnel will be readily available, too. More than 140 fishermen are being roped in to prevent drowning.

Booths will be set up at the entry points of the beaches to tie bands on the hands of children. “The mobile number of the parents will be written on the bands and this will help anyone trace their family if children go missing,” the police said. It may be recalled that as many as 20 children who went lost in the crowd last year were traced within minutes.

Depending on the crowd, the traffic flow will be restricted on Kamarajar Salai and vehicles coming from Adyar will be diverted at Kannagi statue. Those coming from Parry’s corner will be diverted at war memorial.

While four watchtowers have been erected at Besant Nagar, nearly 15,000 policemen, including those from the armed reserve, will be deployed across the city where visitors are expected in large numbers.