With Jammu and Kashmir grappling with an intense and prolonged heatwave, Senior Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (J&K NC) leader, Advocate Neelofar Masood, has issued a fervent appeal to the government, district administrations, and concerned authorities, to take swift and decisive action to prevent the rising number of child drowning incidents across the region.
In a deeply distressing development, four children tragically drowned in Boniyar, Uri, adding to a growing list of similar incidents in recent weeks, where children seeking relief from the searing heat have lost their lives in unsupervised and unsafe water bodies such as rivers, canals, and ponds.
Calling these deaths ‘tragic and preventable’, Advocate Neelofar Masood underscored the urgent need to prioritize child safety during this ongoing climate emergency. ‘The loss of innocent lives is not just heart-breaking; it is a call to action. Protecting our children must be the topmost priority for every arm of the administration’, she stated.
Advocate Masood outlined a series of immediate measures the administration must undertake to mitigate further tragedies: Sealing off or monitoring access to high-risk water bodies and installing visible and multilingual warning signs; Deploying trained rescue personnel in areas frequently visited by children and youth; Initiating awareness campaigns in schools, Anganwadi centres, and community platforms about the dangers of swimming in unprotected areas.
Further, engaging municipal committees and block-level bodies in both awareness and prevention efforts; and Using local media and digital platforms to broadcast frequent public advisories to keep communities alert and informed.
‘These heartbreaking incidents are a wake-up call. We must act swiftly and collectively to ensure no more young lives are lost due to negligence or lack of safeguards’, she emphasized. Additionally, Advocate Masood made a heartfelt appeal to parents and guardians to exercise vigilance and ensure their children do not venture near unsafe water bodies during this high-risk period.
‘This is a time for unified and compassionate action from government agencies and civil society to every household. Let us rise to the occasion and shield our children from this growing and preventable threat’, she concluded.
