‘Exercise extreme precaution’: Safety alert issued for Indian nationals after reported rise in drownings in Canada

As the hot weather arrives, officials in Ottawa are renewing messages about water safety. CTV’s Austin Lee reports.

Indian nationals in Canada are being advised to “exercise extreme precaution” while visiting beaches, lakes, rivers and areas near water following a reported increase in drownings.

The warning particularly concerns Indian international students, according to a safety alert posted by the Consulate General of India in Toronto on its website and Facebook page on Wednesday.

“The Consulate has been receiving (an) increased number of drowning cases of Indian nationals in Canada,” according to the advisory.

The consulate advised Indian nationals to follow all safety instructions, avoid entering “unfamiliar” or “unsafe waters” and wear life jackets when they’re required or recommended.

The Consulate General of India didn’t provide statistics or specify whether the drownings were fatal. It did not immediately respond to CTVNews.ca’s request for information on Thursday.

India had the highest number of estimated drowning deaths among Commonwealth countries in 2021 at 54,682, according to the Royal Life Saving Society based in the U.K.

Canada ranked 19th among Commonwealth nations, with an estimated 298 drowning deaths in 2021.

India had a population of 1.38 billion in 2022 compared to Canada’s population of nearly 37 million in 2021.

Fatal drowning “disproportionately” affects children and young people worldwide, the Royal Life Saving Society says.