BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 28th June 2024: In a bid to curb the alarming rate of water drowning incidents, a public awareness and training camp was held on Friday in the conference hall of the West Tripura District Magistrate’s office. This pivotal event was organized by the West Tripura District Natural Disaster Management Authority aimed to educate and prepare the community for drowning prevention.
The camp was inaugurated by the District Magistrate, Dr. Vishal Kumar, who emphasized the critical need for such initiatives. “This program has been initiated with the goal of increasing awareness about drowning prevention,” stated Dr. Kumar. “So far this year, eight people have drowned in the state, with three fatalities occurring in West Tripura district alone. Our objective is to reduce this rate to zero.”
Dr. Kumar highlighted that June is being observed as Drowning Prevention Month. He expressed optimism that collaborative efforts involving the NDRF, various clubs, social organizations, and ward secretaries of Agartala Pur Corporation will effectively disseminate the message of drowning prevention throughout the community. “In case of death or injury due to drowning, we have resources available to provide assistance as per government regulations,” he added.
The event saw the participation of several key officials and representatives, including Additional District Magistrate Sajal Biswas, Natural Disaster Management Branch Officer Kshirod Debbarma, District Program Officer Pinki Pal, and Inspectors RK Meena, Mandeep Malik, and Ajit Kumar from the NDRF’s 1st Battalion. Secretaries from various wards of Agartala Municipal Corporation along with representatives from various clubs and volunteers also attended.
Inspector RK Meena of the NDRF delivered a detailed presentation, showcasing the statistics of drowning deaths in Tripura and other states. Through a compelling PowerPoint presentation, he stressed the importance of raising awareness and the essential skill of swimming. “It’s crucial that we educate our community about the dangers of drowning and the steps they can take to prevent it,” he asserted.
Following the training session, NDRF personnel and volunteers, led by Inspector Meena, conducted a practical exercise on rescue, prevention, and relief operations at Durgabari Dighi. This exercise aimed to demonstrate effective response techniques in the event of a drowning incident. The drill was observed by officials from the West Tripura District Administration, local citizens, and camp trainees, underscoring the community’s collective commitment to drowning prevention.
