Tragic Incidents Spark Warnings on Swimming Safety in the Cauvery River

Roughly 120 incidents of drowning were recorded in the previous year at the Tiruchi police station.
| Photo Credit: File Photo

The occurrence of three school students drowning in the Cauvery has sparked worries regarding the insufficient awareness of the risks associated with swimming without proper training in Tiruchi.

On Monday evening, three boys drowned in the Cauvery after they became separated from their group of friends— all Class X students from a local school— while swimming at the Ayyalamman bathing ghat, when they ventured into deeper waters.

Their bodies were located following a thorough search operation executed on Monday and Tuesday by teams of firefighters from Tiruchi, Srirangam, and Perambalur.

This unfortunate event underscored the peril that untrained swimmers encounter in open waters.

“Swimming is a vital skill for all young individuals and should be included in school curricula, enabling them to safeguard themselves from accidents. In this instance, the boys had come as a group after their exams and entered the river via the Ayyalamman ghat. It is reported that the three victims opted to swim in a more turbulent section of the Cauvery, where whirlpools frequently occur,” stated a senior official of the Fire and Rescue Department’s station in Tiruchi to The Hindu.

Roughly 120 incidents of drowning were recorded in the prior year at the Tiruchi station.

The official further remarked that it is common to encounter crocodiles and other riverine wildlife in the Cauvery, and recommended that the public heed warning signs placed by authorities before entering the water.

“Individuals eagerly follow social media postings regarding ‘beauty spots’ along the rivers, unaware of their concealed hazards. Recent Instagram posts highlighting the waterfall-like effect created by the retaining wall on the Kollidam river led to a surge of visitors to the site. Subsequently, numerous individuals reported slipping and falling into the water. Although it may appear picturesque, the river is not safe for everyone, particularly for those unfamiliar with swimming,” the official explained.

Additionally, sources indicated that the Fire and Rescue Department of Tiruchi plans to enhance its capabilities by incorporating divers trained in self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) rescue operations. Currently, SCUBA divers are available at the department’s stations in Thanjavur and Perambalur.

A senior Corporation official stated that establishing restricted access points would enhance safety for river swimming. These secured locations would be monitored to deter trespassers, he added.