Safety first: Rescue centre to be made at barrage

HYDERABAD: The frequent incidents of drowning in the Indus river, especially in the off-taking canals of the Kotri barrage, have finally forced the government to establish a rescue centre at the barrage. Jamshoro deputy commissioner Suhail Adeeb Bachani made the announcement at an official meeting on Wednesday. The centre will comprise an office, staff, ambulances, boats, life jackets and divers. It was also decided in the meeting to place sign boards along the barrage and its four canals warning people how deep the water is. On May 24, five children of a Hindu community living in Sareghat area of Hyderabad, drowned while swimming in one of the four canals emanating from Kotri barrage. Bachani directed the officials to submit a report of the incident. The officials from fisheries, irrigation, civil defence, health and social welfare departments attended the meeting.

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