World Drowning Prevention Day: Importance of Government, Communities, and Private Sector

• Drowning deaths are common, with one-third of all drowning deaths in the 0-14 age group.

• The rise in climate change events has made urban spaces dangerous, turning even small areas into potential hazards.

• Urban flooding in India affects lakhs of people annually, with floods claiming approximately 1,500 human lives annually from 2011 to 2020.

• The World Health Organization estimates that 75% of fatalities in flood-related disasters are drowning deaths.

• The issue lies with both design and maintenance, with urban engineering not always prioritizing well-designed utilities that do not account for pedestrian space and safety.

• The lack of flood resilience in ‘Smart’ cities, such as the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission, is a critical gap.

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) now takes cognisance of urban flooding, but policies for disaster risk management in India do not specify drowning.

• Communities and the private sector have a major role to play in ensuring flood resilience, safety, and preventing drowning deaths.

• At smaller levels, at home and outside, upkeep of facilities, regular monitoring, ensuring that safety equipment works, and safety laws are implemented in practice are crucial.