'Art of floating on water can save people from drowning'

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha will teach techniques to the world to save people from drowning. Forum for Smart Citizens convenor and former chief secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik said this while addressing a gathering here on Monday on the occasion of World Drowning Prevention Day.
He said Forum’s member and aqua Yoga trainer Ashok Kumar Baral knows the tricks and he can teach the world about this. Baral has been teaching the techniques to common people, firefighters and staff of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF).
The Yoga trainer said a person can save himself/herself from drowning by simply floating on water. He demonstrated the tricks with the firemen and jawans of ODRAF. “Swimming is not necessary to float on water. A person should control his/her breathing and float on the water by keeping nose and mouth above the water level. We should ensure that water does not enter the mouth or nose,” he added.
At least one person dies daily in Odisha because of drowning. Simple tricks can save the lives of the public, said the members of the forum.
The programme was conducted at Biju Patnaik Swimming Complex here. Fire services DG Santosh Kumar Upadhyay, twin city police commissioner SK Priyadarshi, Jagadananda and others attended the programme.