Surat: A 20-year-old engineering student from Daman died after drowning in a municipal corporation-run swimming pool in Vapi on Wednesday, prompting questions over supervision and emergency response at the facility.Police said preliminary findings based on CCTV footage show the woman struggled to stay afloat for about a minute, but neither swimmers nor staff noticed the distress in time to rescue her.The incident occurred at Sports Club of Vapi, a facility operated by Vapi Municipal Corporation, where the student had reportedly been attending swimming training regularly. The deceased was identified as Ansu Kumari Singh, an engineering student from Daman.Police said Singh was in the pool during a routine training session when she began to sink. At the time, some of her friends were also in the water. Parents of other learners and swimming pool staff were present near the poolside, officials said. But none noticed her struggle.Authorities stated that after noticing the girl drowning, other students pulled her out of the water, but her condition had deteriorated due to the time spent underwater. She was later declared dead.Local officials at the pool claimed that instructors were on duty, but said they did not realise when Singh began drowning. Based on the CCTV assessment, police and civic authorities have intensified scrutiny of the pool’s safety protocols, including the adequacy of instructor monitoring, the presence of lifeguards, emergency rescue preparedness, and compliance with operating rules.Family members have alleged negligence by the sports club and demanded action against those responsible. The death has led to shock and grief among relatives and acquaintances, while also triggering broader concern among regular users of the facility.Vapi Town Police registered a case of accidental death, and further investigation is underway to establish the exact sequence of events and determine whether lapses in supervision or safety measures contributed to the fatality.“The pool is managed by an agency, and if negligence is found during police investigation, actions will be taken against those responsible,” said a VMC official.
