A recent survey has revealed that West Bengal experiences an alarming average of over 25 drowning deaths each day, with children accounting for half of these fatalities. The findings emphasize the urgent need for increased public awareness to combat this issue.
In other words, the survey conducted last year, which focused on a population of approximately 18 million in the state, indicates that more than 9,000 lives are lost to drowning each year.
The survey’s findings, conducted by the Child in Need Institute and The George Institute for Global Health, were released in the city on Friday, coinciding with World Drowning Prevention Day. The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights also took part in the discussions.
Dr. Samir Chaudhuri, the Founder Secretary of CINI and a prominent physician, informed that the actual number of drowning deaths exceeds 25, as many deceased children lack Aadhaar cards and numerous fatalities in households go unreported.
The report indicates that the majority of drowning deaths occur between noon and 2 PM, a time when parents are often away working in fields or engaged in other manual labor.
