Drowning incidents: Additional home guards deployed on coastal beaches

Team Udayavani, Dec 17, 2024, 11:05 AM IST

Udupi/Karkala: To ensure safety amid school and college excursions during November and December, the district administration and zilla panchayat have decided to deploy special security personnel at coastal beaches.

Through collaboration with the education department, private and government schools, SDMCs, and NGOs, awareness programs will be organised to educate students about beach hazards and safety measures. The aim is to alert children about dangerous areas and the importance of caution.

25 Home Guards Deployed

Tourist Mitra personnel are already active at Malpe, Kaup, Padubidri, Kodi Kanyana, Maravanthe, Baindur, and Someshwara beaches. However, with increased tourist footfall during school vacations, an additional 25 home guards will be deployed and provided with five days of training, an official said.

There have been alarming incidents where students and youth have drowned in rivers, lakes, and the sea. In Udupi district alone, over 10 students lost their lives in 2024 while swimming. Parents, schools, and students must remain vigilant and aware of water-related dangers.

Key Awareness Measures for Parents

• Monitor children during holidays.
• Stay in touch with teachers to track children’s activities.
• Teach swimming and basic survival skills.
• Avoid encouraging adventurous activities in rivers, mountains, or forests.
• Educate children about natural hazards like water, fire, and storms.

What Schools Can Do

• Organise annual awareness programs.
• Share details of past tragic incidents to caution students.
• Use visual aids to highlight the risks of reckless activities.
• Identify and list dangerous rivers and lakes in gram panchayats.
• Conduct awareness sessions for parents and children at village meetings.

Home Guards on Duty

The district tourism department and police have been instructed to take special precautions. “We are deploying 25 new home guards at beaches to ensure safety,” said Dr. K. Vidyakumari, Udupi District Commissioner.

Awareness Programs in Schools and Colleges

“Special village meetings at the Gram Panchayat level will be organized to create awareness among children and parents. Dangerous rivers and ponds will be identified, and safety measures will be implemented through Gram Panchayat administrations. Awareness programs will also be conducted in schools and colleges through the Education Department, government and private institutions, SDMCs, and other NGOs,” said Prateek Bayal, CEO, Zilla Panchayat.

Responsibility of Parents

Fire officer Vinayak Kalgutkar urged parents to supervise children and discourage them from engaging in dangerous water activities during holidays.

Key Incidents in Udupi District

• Dec 7: Dhanraj (23) and Darshan (18) drowned at Kodi Beach.
• Dec 1: Shreesha (13) and Prajwal (14) drowned in Gummala Dam near Belve.
• Nov 29: Joel Dias (19) drowned at Karkala Durgafalls.
• Oct 25: Roger (17) and Madhav (18) drowned in Alevoor river near Manipal.
• Oct 25: Siddharth Shetty (17) drowned in Karamballi lake.

Similar incidents have been reported across Dakshina Kannada, where over 17 students drowned in 2024. The tragic incidents include students losing their lives in rivers, dams, and swimming pools due to a lack of awareness or safety precautions.