Monsoon hazards: Beat the heat, but wisely

Authorities warn against swimming in rivers, dams, streams

ISLAMABAD: For a country accustomed to an average of 40 degrees heat in this season, summer is often accompanied by swimming, and for a large portion of the public, this respite is found in rivers, dams and streams.

This has, however, been met with warnings by authorities who are all too accustomed to the surge in freak accidents this season brings, as the pre-monsoon rains increase the water levels of these popular swimming spots.

These warnings go largely ignored, especially by adolescent boys, who find this past-time the perfect reprieve from the extreme weather conditions of the summer and who otherwise have limited options available for entertainment.

“My son went to  Neela Sandh River for swimming, along with his friends, and drowned in the deep water,” said mother of a 23-year-old who lost his life last Sunday.

“I lost my only son due to this incident and I urge that other parents stop their children and educate them about the hazards of such activities,” she said, while talking to the APP on Monday.

Faraz, another adolescent, explained how he lost four family members in Khanpur Dam a few years ago, who died in an attempt to save his brother from drowning.

“There must be some mechanism to disseminate proper awareness among the people, by the authorities, about the hazards of swimming in open spaces, to save them from any untoward incident,” said Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Director General Dr Ghulam Rasool, who warned of the flood risks during the monsoon season.



“Citizens are advised to stay away from billboards and dangling wires, when encountering rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds,” he said.

According to a spokesperson of Rescue-1122, the authority has handled 11 emergency drowning cases, with seven of these cases falling between January and June, even before start of the monsoon season.

Out of the seven victims, the official informed six had expired.

The Rescue-1122 administration has urged citizens to extend their cooperation with the rescuers and avoid swimming in deep waters, to save precious lives.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2016.