Cyclone Vardah, Jallikattu protests to oil spill: Marina Beach turns playground of natural disasters and cultural movements

A tragic oil spill on the Chennai's Marina Beach has turned the city beach into a nightmare. On January 28, two shipping vessels had collided outside the Kamarajar Port at Ennore, resulting in rupture for one of them which led to an oil spill. 

Unfortunately, it is not the first time Marina Beach has made it to headlines, for wrong reasons. 

Cauvery water protest:

In September 16, the Marina Beach of Chennai was hogged by people protesting against Cauvery water treaty. 

Cyclone Vardah:

Only a few days later, devastating Cyclone Vardah destroyed the beach as it hit the entire eastern coast with a Wind speed of 60 kms to 80 kms gusting to 90 kms.

Jayalalithaa's demise:

Even before the city could recover from the cyclone damages, the people sunk in mourning at Marina Beach for the chief minister Jayalalithaa. On Dec 6, the beach was filled with people praying for health and later mourning her death in unity. 

Jallikattu protests:

After the ban on 'Jallikattu', protests at Marina beach reached its peak with nearly over a lakh people from all walks of life assembling there, demanding the lifting of the ban on the bull taming sport. Around 50 protesters set Ice House police station on fire. Not only this, vehicles were also set on fire during the protests.

Oil spill: 

The collision of two ships has now wreaked havoc on the beach, rendering it hazardous and useless for people. Although the government has now assured that 90 percent of cleaning work has been complete and rest will be done soon. 

Hopefully, the cleaning process will also cleanse the beach of unrest it has been the witness of past two months and brings some peace and calm for people of Chennai.