After tragedy, clubs to keep watch even on seasoned swimmers, underwater drills
Times of India | 7 September 2026
Kolkata: Swimming clubs in and around Rabindra Sarobar and the rest of the city are revising safety protocols and increasing supervision during training sessions following the deaths of two trained teenagers in less than three months. Both teens had reportedly been practising underwater breath-holding techniques when they lost consciousness in the water.
Club authorities said they were reviewing training manuals, particularly guidelines governing underwater drills, and placing greater emphasis on close supervision of young swimmers. Trainers have also been advised to monitor swimmers during breath-control exercises and ensure such drills are not conducted without adequate supervision.
The move follows the death of a 16-year-old Class XI student at a swimming club at Rabindra Sarobar on Friday. The teen, who had been undergoing swimming training for several years, reportedly collapsed while practising underwater breath-holding and did not resurface. Fellow swimmers pulled him out and rushed him to a private hospital, where he was declared dead.
“The incident has left us shocked and searching for answers. We immediately held a meeting of club officials and trainers and decided to increase the number of trainers inside and outside the pool. We often pay more attention to trainees than swimmers. But after these incidents, we have decided to pay equal attention to both swimmers and trainees. We are also increasing the number of lifeguards, improving medical facilities and installing more lights around the pool,” said Aurobindo Roy, secretary of Indian Life Saving Society (ILSS) swimming club.
The latest incident came less than three months after another teenager, Hrichick Chakraborty, died during a similar underwater exercise at Chetla Agrani Club. “Since that incident, we have stopped underwater breathing exercises for young students and trainees. Only swimmers with more than five years of experience are allowed to do so,” said Sabyasachi Chowdhury of Chetla Agrani Club.
Swimming trainers said breath-holding exercises are sometimes incorporated into advanced training to improve water confidence, body control and breathing technique. However, they said such exercises can become dangerous when swimmers attempt to remain underwater for prolonged periods or push themselves beyond their limits.
Experts also caution that a swimmer can lose consciousness underwater without being able to signal for help. This makes continuous visual supervision particularly important during breath-holding drills, even when the swimmer is experienced.
“We are now considering tighter restrictions on underwater exercises involving minors, including allowing such drills only under direct supervision and limiting the duration of breath-holding exercises. We are also reviewing emergency response protocols to ensure that swimmers who show signs of distress can be pulled out of the water immediately,” said Subrata Guha, secretary of Lake Club.
The incidents have also prompted calls for swimming clubs to maintain clear records of training exercises involving young swimmers and ensure that trainers are adequately equipped to respond to underwater emergencies.