Bhubaneswar: Odisha will deploy women lifeguards at Puri beach for the first time as part of a new initiative to strengthen the safety arrangements for tourists. As many as 25 women have been selected for specialised training before they are deployed along the state’s popular coastline, official sources said.The selected candidates will undergo intensive training at the Odisha State Watermanship and Lifeguard Institute (Oswali) in Chandrabhaga near Puri, where they will be equipped with skills to handle emergencies in sea, rivers and swimming pools.“We will start the training session for the women lifeguards, whose deployment is necessary to rescue women tourists,” said Umashankar Dash, IGP, Odisha fire and emergency services.The training programme will cover advanced life-saving techniques, including surf, open-water, underwater and swimming pool rescue. The trainees will also be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid and emergency response techniques.Officials said the induction of women lifeguards would also help create a more inclusive rescue mechanism at crowded tourist spots, where women may feel more comfortable seeking assistance from them during emergencies.“The move is aimed at creating a professionally trained pool of women rescuers who can respond effectively to water-related emergencies involving women. Once trained, the lifeguards are expected to be deployed not only at Puri beach but also other important beaches and water tourism destinations in the state,” an officials said.After successfully completing the specialised course, the women lifeguards will be issued licences by the National Institute of Watersports. The licensing is part of a broader initiative to standardise lifesaving services and improve safety at Odisha’s water tourism destinations.Rajkishore Paikray, administrator of water-based adventure and sports at Oswali, said the institute is focusing on professional training based on internationally benchmarked life-saving standards. “We are preparing professionally trained lifeguards, recognising their successful completion of internationally benchmarked life-saving training and their readiness to safeguard tourists and locals across Odisha’s coastline and inland water bodies,” Paikray said.Earlier, the tourism department, and fire and emergency services signed an agreement with the institute of watersports in July to strengthen tourist safety and promote Odisha as a safe and responsible destination for adventure and water-based tourism.