Beat the heat: Absence of safety measures put canal divers at risk

Civil Defence Department says it has requested deployment of lifeguards.

LAHORE:

The city government has so far not taken any precautionary measures to deal with those who put their lives in danger by bathing in the canal during summer.

With the temperature going up, a number of people, particularly the youth, have been spotted swimming in the canal at Harbanspura, Jallo Mor, Mughalpura and Lal Pul.

Many novice divers have drowned in the past in the absence of safety measures.

Last year, the district government had banned the activity at 12 canal points on June 16, 2013. It had erected barbed wires on the canal bank near Harbanspura, Dharampura, Ferozepur Road, University of the Punjab, Samsani and Thokar Niaz Beg.

It had, however, allowed swimming at a few points and deployed 25 lifeguards to rescue the divers in case of an emergency. Notices were displayed at these points and an awareness campaign was also launched.

However, no such steps have been taken this year.

Of the 39 drowning incidents reported in 2012, 15 people died, according to an official data.

Of the 48 such incidents reported in 2013, 26 people including seven women died, reveals the data available with The Express Tribune.

Many of those who bath in the canal do not know how to swim. During a visit to the canal, they were seen holding on to the banks of the canal; a few were trying to stay afloat using a tube. “I can’t swim. I, therefore, bath while clinging on to a tube,” said Muhammad Numair, 11.

“I come here with my two brothers at least thrice a week. Once I lost the grip on the tube and got into trouble. Thankfully, a swimmer nearby rescued me,” said Numair, a resident of Mughalpura.

For Numair, this the best time of the year as he not only beats the heat but also has fun while bathing in the canal.

Ali Hamza, a resident of Shalimar Colony, said he often saw people shouting for help as they did not know how to swim.

Asked why he put his life in danger, Hamza, a grade 9 student said, “We don’t have many recreational spots around. We have fun swimming in the canal although we are aware of the dangers involved in it.” He urged the government to depute lifeguards for their safety.

Civil Defence Department Deputy Director Qari Sher Alam said they had requested the district coordination officer to order deployment of lifeguards at the areas cleared for swimming.

“Hopefully, lifeguards will be in action by July 1,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2014.