Police on their toes after mild tremors

KOCHI: A few minutes after the tremor was felt in Kochi, the police    sent alert all across the city and the coastal belt. The police stations  were directed to take precautionary measures without creating panic among the people. Tourist spots closer to the beaches were evacuated and people were cautioned as tsunami alert was issued. “We have directed the coastal police to monitor the fishermen. The Navy and  the Coast Guard were also alerted to help fishermen reach the shores in case of any disaster,” K Padmakumar, Inspector-General of Police, Ernakulam Range said. K C Hariharan, circle-inspector at the Coastal Police Station at Fort Kochi  said that the Fisheries Department had alerted the fishermen to return to shore. “There is nothing to panic. But, all fishermen were told to be cautious and  return to coast,” he said.The Fire and Rescue Services were also on the alert though no specific message came from the District Administration. “All units are prepared to act if any disaster strikes,” Joe Kuruvilla, Superintendent of Fire and Rescue Service, said. Fire and Rescue Services, Ernakulam Range, also alerted the police and its units at Idukki. “We are ready to rush to the spot and carry out disaster management activities. But a major problem is that we don’t have enough equipment. If  the people are trapped in high-rise buildings, it would be hard for us to   rescue them as we don’t have skylifts. The skylift we possess only reaches up to the  fourth floor of a building,” a Fire and Rescue official said.