Spell out steps to prevent drowning in water bodies: HC to TN govt

The Madras High Court today directed the Tamil Nadu government to submit a status report on the measures being taken to prevent accidental death by drowning in water bodies in the state.
The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose gave the direction on the public interest litigation (PIL) by P Kotteeswari and posted the matter for further hearing to April 2.
The petitioner sought a direction to the state government to prevent accidental death by drowning in water bodies like lakes, ponds, creeks, beaches and rivers by displaying danger signs.
When the matter came up, the bench said the state government may consider erection of watch towers at resorts and beaches and also consider engaging expert swimmers to be posted as guards in coastal areas.

Referring to the report of the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), the petitioner said as many as 11,884 people died after falling in the water bodies in 2014 and 669 were reportedly injured.
The petitioner further submitted that the data reveals that 90 per cent of those who died were children aged 1 to 12 years, by drowning in water bodies.
The state government should take steps to de-silt the water bodies and ensure that unauthorised access to the water bodies is denied in order to prevent accidental death by drowning, he added.