4356 drowning deaths in Kerala during last five years

KOTTAYAM: A total of 4364 lives were lost in the state’s water bodies in the last five and a half years. Most of these accidents are caused due to people entering waters they are unfamiliar with and the difficulty recognizing the undercurrents. According to the Right to Information document provided by the Fire Force, most of the victims are below 30 years of age.

From January 2018 to last October 2023, an average of three people drowned every day in the state., 75 per cent of those who died during the last two summers were students. Drowning is more common in rivers, ponds and quarries. 538 people died in accidents in tourism centres.

Drowning is not included in the calamity list unless it happens during natural calamities. This rule has thus made families bereft of any compensation. In other states, dependents of drowning victims are getting huge sums of money. In Kerala, these families sometimes get a helping hand from their respective MLA who will beseech the chief minister to provide a paltry amount from the CM’s relief fund. There is also a strong demand for a law to provide insurance coverage to those who die by drowning.

Thrissur district has the highest number of drowning deaths: 585. Thiruvananthapuram district : 538. Wayanad has the lowest: 89.

New measures to be adopted...

• Water safety schemes like road safety

• Children should be trained in swimming

• Study on ways to reduce drowning