Report on drowning deaths in TN sought

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose, while admitting a plea moved by an advocate P Kotteswari seeking a direction to the state to prevent accidental deaths of drowning in water bodies by displaying danger signs at these place, said the state may consider erection of watch towers in resorts and beaches and consider engaging expert swimmers to be posted as guards in the coastal areas. 

The bench on seeking a status report posted the matter for further hearing to April 2. The petitioner, while referring to the report of National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), said as many as 11,884 persons had died and 669 persons suffered injuries in 2014 of which 90 per cent of them were those in the age group of 1 to 12 years.

Also, citing news items about the death of several school and college students on excursion or on picnic through drowning, the petitioner submitted that most of these deaths occur during weekends, summer vacations and festival holidays, wherein people had endangered themselves unaware of the depth, the slippery nature of the area surrounding the water bodies and other lurking dangers. Accidental deaths of drowning still occur on Marina Beach despite police presence and warning boards, she submitted.