TAXILA: The drowning of two students on Thursday has revealed the poor safety arrangements, life safety measures and first aid facilities at the scenic Khanpur dam.

Two women, who were students at a private college in Chakwal, were visiting the dam on a recreational college trip when they drowned after an incident on their water scooter.

Both women were rescued and suffered minor injuries. However, the incident sent alarm bells ringing among other visitors due to the lack of safety and first aid arrangements available at the dam.

Inadequate life safety measures are particularly worrisome for those visitors who engage in water sports.

The area, commonly known as ‘Green Waters’, is a popular spot among tourists, especially during the holidays. The dam also holds speed boats, water scooters and boating facilities that seem ever popular despite exorbitant prices.

The concerned authorities have permitted boating and water sports at the dam but have not ensured any precautionary measures, even though lives have been lost at the dam before. Other than enlisting expert divers from Rescue 1122 in case of an emergency, there are no standard safety procedures to be found.

There are no measures to stop people from swimming in the area, even though nearly two dozen people die at the dam every year.

The faded signboard put up by the dam authorities declares swimming in the water illegal, but is often ignored and its warning is not enforced.

Raja Naveed, a boatman, told Dawn that there are many places in the dam, close to the spillways, where water is as deep as 200 feet.

He said that while the majority of the boatmen can swim, they are not trained to protect the lives of passengers in an emergency.

He said most boatmen live in the nearby villages. Speed boats and water scooters are also powered by diesel engine motors, even though only oars are allowed in order to prevent contamination of the water.

The dam not only serves as a drinking water reservoir for Rawalpindi residents, but is also a sanctuary for fish and a breeding ground for migrating Siberian birds.

Despite repeated attempts, Khanpur dam authorities were not available for comments.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2015