The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will seek help from expert trainers to upgrade safety standards at its swimming pools. The civic body took the decision three days after the unfortunate death of a seven-year-old boy in the municipal pool at Andheri Sports Complex last week.
Qasim Siddique Hamid Ali, a resident of Wardhawadi in Andheri (West), drowned while swimming in the pool on Friday. In its Monday’s edition, DNA highlighted the pool administration’s disregard for the prescribed safety standards.
The sports complex pool does not have an in-house medical facility. Life-guards and instructors employed there are not trained in life-saving and rescue skills by certified agencies. Qasim’s death revealed that basic safety apparatus, such as oxygen cylinders with masks, life-buoys, rescue ropes and light poles, were not there at the swimming pool.
DNA referred to the swimmers’ safety manual, compiled by the Rashtriya Life Saving Society (RLSS), a national-level voluntary organisation providing training in modern lifesaving techniques.
The agency is a member of the world water safety organisation.
The BMC has decided to seek help from the RLSS to upgrade safety standards at municipal pools.
Deputy municipal commissioner (DMC) Chandrasekhar Rokade said that if things worked out, the agency would be asked to conduct training courses for life-guards and instructors. It might also be asked to suggest ways to upgrade safety standards.
Rokade, who has been appointed by the BMC to probe Qasim’s drowning, visited the Andheri Sports Complex on Monday. Along with him went Kiran Achrekar, another deputy municipal commissioner. They inspected the pool and interacted with the sports complex officials. Rokade said that they would inspect if the pool was thrown open to public “in a hurry”. The quality of repair work would also be assessed.
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