Bhubaneswar: The Odisha govt has mapped 169 drowning-prone black spots and drawn up a plan to train 3,420 home guards for deployment at these locations as lifeguards.The vulnerable water spots comprise popular tourist destinations and public water bodies, including sea, lakes, ponds, rivers, reservoirs and waterfalls, where repeated drowning incidents have been reported.“A joint assessment by the Odisha Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) and tourism department has recommended the deployment of the home guards after specialised training at the Odisha State Watermanship and Lifeguard Institute (OSWALI) at Chandrabhaga,” Umashankar Dash, inspector general of police, F&ES, said.The personnel will undergo training in basic lifesaving and water-rescue techniques before being posted at identified high-risk locations.The tourism department sources said 1,010 trained home guards would be deployed in the first phase, with priority given to tourist spots that record heavy visitor footfall and have a higher risk of drowning.National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data show that 10,383 people drowned in Odisha between 2020 and 2024. Of them, 9,149 were accidental deaths, while 1,234 were classified as suicides.At a meeting on June 18, chief secretary Anu Garg asked officials to scientifically map drowning hotspots by taking into account the geographical characteristics and nature of individual water bodies. She also directed authorities to strengthen safety measures such as warning boards, railings and barricades, besides covering open wells at vulnerable locations.The govt is also preparing a statewide awareness campaign to educate people about drowning risks and promote safer behaviour around water bodies. “Children and young people account for a large share of drowning victims. Unsafe conditions at waterfalls, ponds, reservoirs, river ghats and beaches, coupled with negligence, are among the key factors. Some incidents have also occurred when people ventured into water after consuming alcohol or while trying to take selfies,” a police officer said.The F&ES and tourism department said efforts would focus on improving surveillance, rescue preparedness and preventive measures at vulnerable sites. Awareness campaigns will particularly target children and youth, officials said. “Besides training personnel for deployment, basic lifeguarding skills will also be imparted to people in gram panchayats so that timely assistance can be provided during emergencies,” another F&ES official said.