Six Child Deaths Spur Safety Drive in ASR District
Alluri Sitharama Raju district administration has issued an urgent alert and a series of safety directives to all departments following the tragic drowning deaths of six children in separate incidents. The measures have come into immediate effect ahead of the summer holidays.
With temperatures rising and schools operating on half-day schedules, officials observed an increase in the number of children and tourists visiting waterfalls, rivers, streams, and other water bodies across the district.
In a tragic incident on April 9, three girls drowned at a waterfall in Hukumpeta mandal. In another incident on Sunday, three boys aged between 10 and 11 years drowned while playing in a water body at Matysagundem.
District Collector T. Nishanthi directed all tahsildars, MPDOs, and Circle Inspectors to jointly prepare a detailed mandal-wise map identifying high-risk water bodies, including canals, check dams, ponds, forest water bodies, and both major and lesser-known tourist spots in all 11 mandals.
The officials have been instructed to include areas where past drowning incidents occurred and mark dangerous zones. A consolidated report has to be submitted to the ITDA Project Officer by Friday.
To prevent further mishaps, the Collector ordered the installation of warning signboards and pictorial caution displays at all vulnerable locations. Temporary safety measures such as bamboo barricades, rope fencing, and restricted access zones are to be implemented immediately.
Special attention has been given to Chaparai Waterfall, where barricading works will be undertaken on the rear side in coordination with the ITDA. The administration is also exploring the use of sensor-based alarm systems at highly vulnerable points.
As part of awareness measures, we’ve asked all schools in the district to conduct daily water safety briefings. Hostel wardens of residential schools have been instructed to strictly monitor student movement, especially during weekends and holidays.
Schools have also been asked to organise parent-teacher meetings before the vacation period to sensitise families about the recent drowning deaths and the need for vigilance.
To strengthen enforcement, police and forest department teams will intensify patrolling at all high-risk and tourist locations, particularly during weekends and holidays.
Ms Nishanthi also directed the police to conduct breathalyzer tests at popular waterfall locations to prevent intoxicated persons from entering water bodies.
Further, all tahsildars have been asked to prepare a mandal-wise database of local swimmers and fishermen who can be mobilised swiftly during emergency rescue operations.