Saving Lives: Mothers Combat Drowning Tragedies in India's Sundarbans

In response to horrifying drowning statistics among children in the Sundarbans region of India, mothers are taking on significant roles by creating makeshift creches and implementing safety measures in their communities. As they confront the dangers posed by nearby water bodies, these women are motivated by personal loss and the desire to protect their children from similar fates.

Mangala Pradhan will forever be haunted by the morning 16 years ago when she lost her one-year-old son, Ajit, to a tragic drowning incident in the Sundarbans. This region, a vast delta consisting of 100 islands in West Bengal, India, has become a perilous environment for children due to the prevalence of water bodies used for daily chores. Even as families juggle their routines, countless children have lost their lives in these waters, highlighting an urgent need for intervention.

Mangala, like 15 other mothers in the area, now participates in community efforts organized by the Child In Need Institute (CINI), which has established makeshift creches to care for children during the workday. Sujoy Roy of CINI underscores their role in safeguarding children, noting that these women are heroes in a place where drowning deaths are all too common. A survey from 2020 revealed that nearly three children aged one to nine drown daily in this riverine region, with most incidents occurring when parents are preoccupied with chores.

In the Sundarbans, where a significant portion of the population consists of children, the reality of drowning is exacerbated by inadequate health services, with many cases going untreated. Desperate parents have resorted to ancient rituals to revive their lost children in the absence of immediate medical assistance. Mangala, who once experienced the unbearable pain of losing her son, is now fiercely committed to preventing similar tragedies. "I want to protect these children from drowning. We live amid so many dangers anyway," she asserts.

As climate change and monsoon rains cause rivers and ponds to swell, the urgency for community vigilance is greater than ever. In response to personal loss, mothers like Sujata Das, who lost her daughter Ambika just three months ago, are implementing practical solutions, from fencing ponds with bamboo to encouraging CPR training among villagers. This newfound awareness brings hope amid the prevailing uncertainty of life in the Sundarbans, which is often intertwined with threats from both nature and wild animals.

Progress, however, is hindered by long-standing beliefs and traditions that need to be redirected towards child safety. The success of initiatives in neighboring Bangladesh, where the establishment of 2,500 creches significantly reduced drowning deaths, offers a potential blueprint.

For the Sundarbans, the path forward includes educating families on drowning prevention and improving resources like swimming lessons. While drowning remains a worldwide crisis—claiming an estimated 300,000 lives annually—every effort made by these mothers represents a step toward securing a safer environment for the next generation. The creches serve as not just a childcare solution, but as a lifeline for families navigating the dangers posed by their surroundings. As children like four-year-old Manik Pal sing about the importance of safety, the message is clear: community resilience and proactive measures are essential in the fight against these tragic and preventable losses.