Water rescue team to have 60 Mukkom youth

KOZHIKODE: For the first time in the state, a water rescue team will be formed in Mukkom of nearly 60 youngsters from the area who are all swimming experts. The team will be officially launched on Tuesday at the Collector’s Chamber by the district collector, who is also the chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority. The idea was mooted in light of frequent drowning tragedies in the area. According to fire and rescue services assistant divisional officer Arun Bhasker, up to 30 drowning cases were reported per year on an average from the area of Mukkom fire station, covering Chaliyar, Aripparara waterfalls and Iruvazhinjippuzha.

“The team would cover more than 10 panchayats. The volunteers between 20 and 40 had earlier helped us in many rescue operations in the area. Being attached to rivers because of the geographical feature of the land, most of them know swimming. However, they lack scientific training, which is being offered by us. This would be the first time in the state a district unit is giving training in water rescue operations,” said Mr Arun. The underwater rescue team of Meenchanda fire station had given the volunteers a one-day training session at the station. The training for the water rescue team would continue as in the case of the community volunteer project, he added.