After road accidents, the highest number of deaths in Kerala is due to drowning. The highest number of drownings occurs during the rainy season when the water level in rivers, streams and creeks rises. People who bathe in dangerous places in the sea drown in the summer too.

Four people drowned in accidents that occurred in waterfalls, ponds and rivers in four districts recently. Two of the four-member group who had gone to bathe in Neyyar Dam drowned. Rescue teams could not conduct a search since the incident took place at night. The bodies were found during a search conducted by the fire department in the morning. A Plus Two student from Sasthavattom Kattaikonam drowned in a pond. The other two died in a river in Idukki and at a waterfall in Malappuram.

The District Disaster Management Authority and the district administration are continuing joint efforts to strengthen preventive measures in the wake of the increasing number of drowning deaths in Thiruvananthapuram district. The fire service estimates that 352 people, including children and foreigners, have drowned in Thiruvananthapuram district alone from 2019 to 2025. Most drowning deaths can be avoided if precautionary measures are taken, including installing necessary signboards. The fire service warns that there are 16 life-threatening shores in Thiruvananthapuram district. Kallar, Kollampuzha, Aruvippuram, Mangayam, Chellanchi, Palode, Aruvikkara Dam, Vattiyoorkavu Thampuran Kshetra Kadavu, Neyyar water body, Moonnattumukku, Anandeswaram, Poovanpara, Kundamankadavu, Koovakudi bridge, and Pozhikkara are the risk zones.

District administrations should issue warnings about such danger zones in all districts, along with the number of people who have drowned there. Often, those who fall into danger are those who come from faraway places and are not familiar with water bodies. At one time, when the number of drowning deaths increased, it was announced that swimming training would be provided to all school students, but this has not been implemented effectively. In addition to educational institutions, local bodies and local sports clubs should take the initiative and take steps to intensify swimming training. Awareness should also be created that under no circumstances should one enter water bodies after consuming alcohol.

Most drowning deaths can be avoided by simply deploying lifeguards in the danger zone. Some bodies of water may appear calm from the outside, but there may be dangerous traps full of mud at the bottom. It is heard that in the old days, the ancestors would give two pieces of advice to those going to Kashi: do not establish excessive relationships with strangers, and do not enter unknown water bodies! The danger lies in the proximity of unfamiliar water bodies. Therefore, our children and youth need to be vigilant in this regard. The authorities should take steps to strengthen warnings and awareness campaigns in this regard through the media and social media platforms. The government should formulate a comprehensive water safety plan.