A 20-year-old engineering student from Daman died after drowning during a training session at the Vapi Municipal Corporation-run Sports Club swimming pool on Wednesday, with CCTV footage and the police investigation raising questions about supervision and emergency response at the civic facility.
The deceased was identified as Ansu Kumari Singh, who had reportedly been attending swimming training regularly. Police said preliminary scrutiny of CCTV footage showed that Singh struggled to stay afloat for about a minute before sinking, but neither other swimmers nor staff noticed her distress in time to rescue her.
The incident took place while Singh was in the pool during a routine training session. Some of her friends were also in the water, while parents of other learners and swimming pool staff were present near the poolside, officials said. Local officials stated that instructors were on duty but did not realise when Singh began drowning.
According to the authorities, other students pulled Singh out of the pool after noticing that she was drowning. However, her condition had deteriorated after the time she spent underwater, and she was later declared dead.
The death has placed the operation of the municipal sports facility under scrutiny. Police and civic authorities are examining whether instructors were monitoring the pool adequately, whether lifeguards were present and performing their assigned duties, and whether the facility had sufficient emergency rescue and response arrangements. They are also looking at compliance with the pool’s operating rules.
The case highlights the importance of continuous supervision in public swimming facilities, particularly during training sessions in which multiple swimmers may be in the water at the same time. The account available from the authorities does not establish whether any specific safety protocol was breached. That question will form part of the ongoing investigation.
Family members have alleged negligence by the sports club and demanded action against those responsible. The incident has also caused concern among regular users and relatives of other learners who use the facility.
Vapi Town Police registered a case of accidental death and are investigating the exact sequence of events. The inquiry is expected to determine how long Singh remained underwater, when her distress was noticed, what rescue steps were taken and whether any lapse in supervision or safety arrangements contributed to the fatality.
A Vapi Municipal Corporation official said the pool is managed by an agency and that action would be taken against those responsible if negligence is established during the police investigation. The official response places responsibility for any operational lapse under scrutiny while the civic body and police examine the facility’s management and safety procedures.
