West Bengal sees 25 drowning deaths every day: Study
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Kolkata: A recent survey conducted by the Indian unit of the George Institute for Global Health has revealed a startling public health crisis in West Bengal, with the state witnessing 25 drowning deaths every day — 13 of which are children.
The study, claimed to be the largest of its kind in India, covered all 23 districts of West Bengal, representing a population of 18 million. According to the researchers, the actual number of drowning deaths in the state is significantly higher than what official figures suggest.
The George Institute for Global Health, an independent medical research organisation headquartered in Australia with offices in India, China, and the UK, focuses on non-communicable diseases and large-scale public health research. Its Indian unit, with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, undertook the extensive survey using a low-cost Community Knowledge Approach. This method involved over 15,000 community members reporting deaths in their neighbourhoods, which were then verified through household surveys with victims’ families.
According to the institute’s statement issued on Thursday, the survey found that approximately 9,191 people die from drowning in West Bengal annually — nearly three times higher than estimates by the Global Burden of Disease. Dr Medhavi Gupta from the George Institute noted that drowning deaths in the state — and likely across much of India — have remained largely underreported. Many of these fatalities occur among children, and due to the lack of legal or financial incentives, families often do not report such deaths to authorities. Additionally, limited access to healthcare services results in many cases being missed by the system entirely.
Dr Gupta described the findings as a reflection of the severe, yet largely invisible, burden affecting rural parts of the state. In response, the study has recommended several urgent interventions. These include the installation of protective fencing around ponds and other open water bodies, particularly in residential areas with toddlers aged 1 to 2 years; incorporating survival swimming and water safety education into school curricula for children aged 6 to 10 years; and improving local capacity in safe rescue and resuscitation, especially as over 90 per cent of drowning rescues are performed by family members or neighbours.
The survey sheds critical light on an overlooked but preventable public health emergency in West Bengal, prompting calls for swift and sustained policy action.
With IANS inputs
