Bengal Drowning Deaths Nearly Triple Earlier Estimates: Study
BMJ Global Health study finds over 9,000 deaths yearly in West Bengal, with toddlers most at risk
Drowning deaths across West Bengal are nearly three times higher than previously estimated, with over 9,000 lives lost each year — most of them young children — according to a major new study published in BMJ Global Health.
The community-based survey, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies and conducted by The George Institute for Global Health, found that the 1–4-year age group accounted for the highest share (33%) of drowning deaths.
Lead author Dr Jagnoor Jagnoor described the findings as a wake-up call to the “massive gap” in understanding the scale of this public health emergency. “Our findings are deeply concerning, particularly the huge loss of young lives to drowning. Every one of these deaths is preventable,” she said.
The researchers engaged over 15,000 community members, covering a population of nearly 18 million, using a low-cost Community Knowledge Approach to record local deaths, which were later verified through household surveys.
Almost half (45%) of all drowning deaths occurred in children aged 1–9, most within 50 metres of their homes and between noon and 2 pm — a period when caregivers are often preoccupied with chores.
Dr Medhavi Gupta, co-author of the study, said underreporting of drowning deaths has long distorted the true picture. “Only 18% of the deaths we recorded had a death certificate, and drowning was listed as a cause in just 57% of those cases,” she noted.
The survey also revealed that 86% of drowning deaths occurred in rural areas and that males were twice as likely to drown as females. West Bengal’s vast network of rivers, deltas and coastal areas, coupled with poverty and limited healthcare access, compounds the risk.
Researchers have urged targeted interventions such as building physical barriers around ponds and open water near homes and expanding daycare access for rural children aged 2–6.
Dr Kelly Henning of Bloomberg Philanthropies said the findings underscore the need to translate data into action. “Drowning remains a leading cause of preventable death in low-and-middle-income countries. Turning this data into action is essential to saving lives,” she said.
