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Holidaying families cautioned about deadly dips in the water
Long weekend and planning a trip? Watch out as you step into waterways, advise experts.
This caution comes following a number of deaths from drowning during the festive season.
Three young women drowned in Kumari Ella in Thummodara, Avissawella last week. Their bodies were recovered hundreds of metres downstream. The trio, aged between 14 years and 29 years, residents of Jaffna and Wattala, were washed away by the sudden surge of water that had been triggered from heavy rains in the area.
On January 1, a 48-year-old father and his 16-year-old son drowned near Sathmala Ella in Deniyaya. Residents of Galle, they were on a family trip to Gintota and decided to have a dip in the waterfall. A young man in his 20s drowned in Akuregoda lake earlier this week.
There were drowning deaths in December, too. A 24-year-old drowned while fishing in Vavunikulum lake in Mankulum, the police said. A 21-year-old from Badulla drowned off Arugam Bay.
Four people were swept up in a current in Gerandi Ella, and a 38-year-old is missing. A 20-year-old mother and her two-year-old from Kandy drowned from a sudden surge of water near Nillamba Oya, Peradeniya.
A 14-year-old and a 11-year-old drowned while bathing in the sea near Mawachchenai, while another 14-year-old and a 13-year-old from Nilaveli drowned, while bathing in the sea near Kuchchaveli. Two 15-year-olds from Wattala drowned in the seas off Dickowita. A 21-year-old and a 27-year-old from Point Pedro drowned after their boat toppled in the Mannar lagoon.
Two young men from Vavuniya drowned off the Mullaitivu coast.
According to police statistics, 312 died in the first six months of last year, while in 2020 there were 701 deaths from drowning in the sea and inland waterways.
“The lack of a national drive to prevent drowning deaths with local councils failing to prioritise safety in their respective tourist hotspots will result in drowning deaths continuing to be on the top of the accidental deaths list after road accidents,” the president of Life Saving Association Asanka Nanayakkara told the Sunday Times.
“Drowning deaths are tragic, no one expects to die or return home without a loved one. Public awareness is a must. A witness said that before the drowning in Kumari Ella, the water turned muddy brown. If you see a change in the colour of water, immediately get out of the water. Usually, these rivers start from one province/district and flow to another. Heavy rainfall in a different province can affect the water flow of water falls, rivers and other waterways. Even life guards can’t save when there are sudden gushes of water. Many people are also unaware of watery holes.’’
He said unexpected heavy rains to the central hills and river routes resulted in water levels in inland waterways increasing suddenly.
“Still there is rainfall in these areas. One should take extra precautions before getting into the water.’’
Mr. Nanayakkara said community lifesaving training should be done without delay and attention should be given to strengthening the understaffed police life saving unit.
“Local governments are playing a very reluctant role in safety from putting up warning signs to employing local life guards/putting up safety gear fearing a drop in tourists. But they can promote their tourist hotspots with safety mechanisms in place,” he said.
The head of Health Ministry’s Non-Communicable Disease Unit (Accident Prevention and Management) Dr. Samitha Siritunga, said drowning numbers may be higher than what is reported.
“The hospitals get dead bodies and those who sustain severe injuries. Many rescued are sent home. A survivor of drowning can suffer hypoxic brain injury (brain damage due to lack of oxygen) that may later affect their behaviour such as memory loss, poor attention. Organ failure too can happen in drowning,” he said.
Dr. Siritunga said a national action plan to prevent drowning will be implemented in a few months.
“From mapping risky places to putting up safety points equipped with ropes and floaties, creating awareness among the public, activating disaster management units, and community training have been included in the multi-sectoral action plan.’’
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