Roopak Goswami
Guwahati, Nov 19: Drowning deaths in West Bengal are almost three times higher than earlier believed, according to one of India’s largest community-based mortality surveys published in BMJ Global Health.
Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the study estimates that 9,191 people die from drowning each year in West Bengal, with children aged 1-4 years accounting for the highest proportion (33%).
Lead author Dr Jagnoor Jagnoor of The George Institute for Global Health said the findings reveal a critical and long-overlooked public health crisis.
“Our findings are deeply concerning, particularly the huge loss of young lives to drowning. The real tragedy is that every one of these deaths is preventable,” she said. “We have the science and the solutions, and we are committed to working with partners and communities to reduce drowning risk in these vulnerable and underserved populations.”
Researchers used the low-cost community knowledge approach, engaging more than 15,000 community members across a population of nearly 18 million. Reported deaths were verified through household surveys with victims’ families.
Key findings include:
- 45% of drowning deaths occurred among children aged 1-9, with the highest risk around the child’s first birthday.
- Most child drownings occurred within 50 metres of the home, typically between 12 pm and 2 pm, when caregivers are occupied with household chores or work.
- 86% of deaths occurred in rural areas, where health system access is limited. Males were twice as likely to die by drowning as females.
Explaining the heightened risk for toddlers, Dr Jagnoor said: “Children aged 1 to 4 are naturally curious and rapidly developing physically. Once they become mobile, even brief lapses in supervision can be fatal. Active supervision and barriers around water are proven strategies that save lives.”
According to Bloomberg Philanthropies, roughly half of all global deaths go unrecorded, leading to major gaps in health planning.
Dr Medhavi Gupta of The George Institute noted that this underreporting is especially acute in drowning cases. “As most deaths occur in children, families often lack legal or financial incentives to report them,” she said. “Only 18% of the deaths we identified had an associated death certificate, and drowning was mentioned as the cause in just 57% of these cases.”
West Bengal’s geographical profile – rivers, deltas and coastal exposure – combined with high poverty levels, places millions at daily risk. Despite significant global development gains, drowning remains a leading cause of injury-related death in low- and middle-income countries, accounting for 92% of global drowning mortality, according to WHO estimates.
Recommendations
Given the extremely high burden of drowning among children aged 1-6, the research team recommends:
- Installing physical barriers around ponds and open water sources near homes to protect toddlers aged 1-2;
- Expanding access to rural creches/daycare centres for children aged 2-6.
Dr Kelly Henning, who leads the Public Health Program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, said the organisation is working with partners to expand swimming and water safety training and improve data systems. “Drowning remains a leading cause of preventable death in low- and middle-income communities, especially among young children. Turning this data into action is essential to reducing drowning risk and saving lives,” she said.
