14 January 2007
Kanum Pongal: A Sea Of Humanity On The Beaches
About 20 lakh people celebrated Kanum Pongal at the Marina beach on Jan. 17. Most of the MTC buses headed for the Marina, Besant Nagar beach and the East Coast Road from 6 a.m.
Some 4000 police personnel were deployed at Marina beach and about 1000 at Besant Nagar beach. Safety barricades were installed where every necessary on the seashore. Temporary watchtowers were created to have a constant watch over the crowd. Many children were disappointed as there was no permission to bathe in the sea and their enjoyment was limited to the merry-go-rounds. People also thronged the industrial exhibition at the Island Grounds.
Some children separated from their parents in the milling crowd were reunited with their families, thanks to the efforts of the police.