BMC to deploy more lifeguards at beaches to prevent drowning incident

These lifeguards are divers who carry out search and rescue operations in case of drowning incidents and disasters in Mumbai.
Mumbai has a total shoreline length of 145 km and there are 12 beaches that are open to the public. These beaches are spread between the island city, eastern and western suburbs.

Meanwhile, officials maintained that they have identified six beaches — Girgaon, Dadar, Juhu, Versova, Gorai and Aksa — that are vulnerable to increasing drowning incidents for which a larger number of lifeguards needed to be deployed there.

“During the monsoon, these six beaches record turbulent waves. Over the past few years, it was in these six beaches where most of the drowning incidents were recorded. Therefore, a decision has been taken to increase the number of lifeguards in these beaches,” said an official from the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB).

Earlier this year, two teenagers drowned in the sea at Juhu beach. Last year also, eight persons lost their lives by drowning in the sea at Juhu beach and in 2023 also multiple cases of drowning incidents were reported in six of these beaches.

To appoint the additional lifeguards, the BMC has floated a tender to appoint a private agency which will be responsible for providing manpower for a three-year period.

The officials also added that in addition to lifeguards the agency will also be responsible for providing jet skis, boats, buoys and tubes.

The officials said that these lifeguards will also work round the clock to provide rescue service to people.

“With time the influx of citizens into the beaches of Mumbai has increased. Also for every 100 meters there should be atleast one lifeguard stationed. We are way below this standard at present, therefore there is a need to increase the manpower at the beaches,” the official said.

In September, the BMC had also floated a tender to acquire six robotic drones that will be responsible to carry out rescue operations during drowning incidents.

These drones will be like a boat that would operate with a remote. The devices will be equipped with harnesses to rescue the drowning victims.