Lives lost, still no check on frolicking in Sirhind canal

BATHINDA: Many children are seen these days swimming in the Sirhind canal and other water channels to beat the heat

Updated At : 06:06 AM Jun 08, 2017 IST

There is an absence of warning signs, security men or CCTV cameras near the bridges to warn those taking bath in the water channels in Bathinda. A Tribune photograph

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 7

Many children are seen these days swimming in the Sirhind canal and other water channels to beat the heat.

However, it often leads to mishappenings or deaths if they lose control or caught in strong water current.

Two persons — Sham Lal and Rahul — drowned in the Sirhind canal on May 5.

In another incident, two children — Sanju Nath (7) and Shanty Nath (8) — drowned while one was injured while taking bath in a minor water channel of Ballo feeder in Rampura in April.

Earlier, 16-year old boy Kaushal Kumar drowned in the Jodhpur Romana water channel while talking a bath.

There is an absence of warning signs, security men or CCTV cameras installed near bridges to warn those taking bath.

Sonu Maheshwari, president of NGO Naujawan Welfare Society, said many persons lost their lives by drowning in the canal.

However, it is sad that no step has been taken by the administration in this regard, he added.

He said earlier, police personnel used to keep a tab on activities around the canal.

They also used to stop people from washing clothes and taking bath there.

But for the past many years, there has been no check on such things, he added.

He said tragic incidents have failed to move the district administration.

Vikas Bansal, a city resident, said it was surprising that despite many precious lives being lost due to drowning in the canal, there is absolutely no check over youths swimming in water carelessly.

Many children can be seen diving in water channels and Sirhind canal these days, he added.

He demanded that the government and administration must do something about it.

Another resident Nishita said it was a big lapse on the part of the district administration.

They should immediately stop people from washing clothes and bathing in the canal, she added.

SDM Sakshi Sawhney said, “We have asked the department concerned to look at possibilities like fencing and putting up banners asking people not to dive into water.”