To avoid any untoward incident in the canals during the summer season in the district, the Kurukshetra police have put up warning signs, asking citizens to stay away from the canals; else, action will be taken against them. With rising temperatures, youngsters can be spotted taking dips in canals, rivers and village ponds to beat the heat, but it is a risky practice.
A Kurukshetra police official said that with the onset of the summer season, the craze for bathing in canals surges among the general public, particularly among the youth. In view of the hot weather conditions and previous incidents in which young boys have lost their lives while bathing in canals, directions have been issued to keep people away from the canals.
There have been incidents of young boys losing their lives while swimming in Kurukshetra. The locations where such incidents have been reported in the past will be monitored by the police personnel. As per the Kurukshetra Police, warning boards were installed at the major locations along the canals passing through the jurisdictions of Jhansa Police Station, Jyotisar Police Post, and Third Gate Police Post.
Kurukshetra police spokesman Naresh Kumar said, “Directions have been issued by the Superintendent of Police to the SHOs to keep a close watch along the canals. Patrolling has been increased. The local residents are being asked not to let the children swim in canals and rivers, and if they find anyone swimming, they should alert the police so that they can be stopped. There have been incidents when people entered the canal in intoxicated conditions and lost their lives as they fail to assess the level and speed of water.”
A warning sign put up by the Kurukshetra Police near Mirzapur village.
“Along with the canals, monitoring at Brahma Sarovar has also been increased, especially during the religious occasions as a large number of people reach Brahma Sarovar to perform rituals. Meanwhile, they also take holy dips in the Sarovar, and sometimes the youngsters cross the safety grills,” he added.
Kurukshetra Superintendent of Police Chander Mohan stated that the strong currents within the canals pose a persistent risk of accidents. Despite repeated warnings, people frequently enter the canals, thereby significantly increasing the risk to their lives. The police are maintaining continuous surveillance and strict action—in accordance with the law—will be taken against anyone found bathing in the canals. The citizens should prioritise their safety and stay away from the canals.
Diver Pargat Singh, who is well known for recovering dead bodies and rescuing people and crocodiles from canals, said, “Every year a number of people lose their lives while swimming in canals. The enjoyment of a few hours turns into lifelong grief for the parents. It has been observed that the youngsters during the summer vacations start gathering at the canals in large numbers, to beat the heat, spend time with friends and the relatives who come for vacations. Sometimes, people lose their balance and drown, and in an attempt to save the drowning person, more youngsters start jumping into the canals, and they also end up losing their lives.
“People are requested to keep a watch on their children and also on the canals. The government should also issue directions to the police department to increase the patrolling and divert some Dial-112 vehicles and riders for patrolling along the canals. If youth are found bathing in the canal, then people should inform the nearest police station or Dial-112 so that lives can be saved,” he said.
