Divers take fatal plunge in Lahore Canal

With the summer season at its full glory in the landlocked provincial capital, low-income locals battling the enervating effects of the unforgiving sun turn to cooling water bodies like the Lahore Canal to temporarily beat the heat. However, since no precautionary arrangements exist at the open water body, locals never know when a thrilling dive underwater could land them six feet into the ground.

Despite the Irrigation Department of Punjab, placing several cautionary boards near various canals, including the BRB Canal, open water bodies in the country like canals, rivers and lakes turn into massive swimming pools come the arrival of the summer season, with countless locals turning to the natural water bodies for recreational purposes, paying no heed to the danger of drowning, which claims the lives of hundreds of youth each year.

One such hapless local was 17-year-old Muhammad Arsalan from Batapur, who whilst bathing in the BRB Canal with his friends last year, succumbed to the surge of adrenaline which incited him to recklessly dive into the murky waters. “My son drowned in the canal after he hit his head during one of his dives. The body got trapped in the bushes under the canal bridge and was recovered a day later,” recalled Malik Ghulam Rasool, Arsalan’s father, who was spotted sitting at the bank of the BRB canal, forbidding other rash youth from repeating his son’s mistake.

While Malik’s sincere warnings might prevent a couple of lucky boys from encountering a fate similar to Arsalan, they cannot suffice for thousands of other youngsters, who frequently lose their lives while bathing in the canal during summers. According to sources of the Express Tribune, during the past five years, 2,545 people died while bathing in a canal, 796 while bathing in a river while 620 other people drowned in a pond, lake or swimming pool. Similarly, during the current year, 11 people lost their lives while diving into a canal.

“Negligence is the main reason behind drowning incidents in canals and rivers. People do not wear protective jackets while bathing in canals and rivers or while riding boats. Youth diving in the Lahore Canal jump high in the water amplifying the risk of hitting their head on a stone underwater. It is very important to take security measures at such places,” warned Farooq Ahmed, spokesman for the Punjab Rescue Emergency Service 1122.

In addition to the risk of accidents, some canals, including the Lahore Canal, also contain sewage water, which according to health experts, can cause different types of skin diseases among people who frequently bathe in the polluted environment. While ideally, bathing in such water should be avoided altogether, experts warn that people turning to the water body to combat the heat must shower with clean water later on.

Speaking to the Express Tribune on the matter, Mohammad Iqbal, a civil defence expert, confessed that it was not entirely possible to stop citizens from bathing in canals, rivers and ponds during summers. “But the government can allocate designated places for citizens to bathe in various canals, including the Lahore Canal. The allocated space should have on-duty lifeguards or staff from Rescue 1122 which have been deployed on a temporary basis for five months from May to August. Similarly, all private ponds and swimming pools too should have safety arrangements in place,” urged Iqbal.