Bhubaneswar, September 16: The Odisha government has identified 169 drowning-prone black spots and plans to train 3,420 home guards for deployment as lifeguards at these locations.
The vulnerable sites include popular tourist destinations and public water bodies such as beaches, rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs and waterfalls. A joint assessment by the Odisha Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) and Tourism Department recommended deploying trained personnel at these high-risk locations.
Inspector General of Police, F&ES, Umashankar Dash said the home guards would receive specialised training in lifesaving and water-rescue techniques at the Odisha State Watermanship and Lifeguard Institute (OSWALI) at Chandrabhaga. About 1,010 trained home guards are expected to be deployed in the first phase, prioritising tourist spots with heavy footfall.
According to National Crime Records Bureau data, 10,383 people drowned in Odisha between 2020 and 2024, including 9,149 accidental deaths and 1,234 suicides.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg has directed officials to scientifically map drowning hotspots and strengthen safety measures, including warning signs, railings, barricades and covering open wells.
The government is also planning a statewide awareness campaign, particularly targeting children and young people. Basic lifeguarding skills will additionally be provided to people in gram panchayats to improve emergency response at the local level.
