Ahmedabad: A boatman collapsed at Nalsarovar on Thursday during training ahead of the proposed resumption of boating at the wetland, raising safety concerns among local boatmen. According to people present at the site, the boatman fell into the water during the swimming test. Another boatman pulled him out and administered CPR before calling emergency services. He was later taken to a hospital in a 108 ambulance, where his condition was reported to be stable.The news caused anxiety among boatmen who have been waiting for nearly two years for boating to restart at Nalsarovar, a major wetland tourist destination and source of livelihood for locals.Boating operations at Nalsarovar were suspended in 2024 after the Harni lake tragedy in Vadodara, where a boat capsized, killing 14 people, including 12 schoolchildren. It prompted authorities to tighten safety norms and halt boating at several locations across Gujarat.Local boatmen said Nalsarovar’s conditions differ from those at Harni lake, noting that much of the wetland is shallow, with water levels around four feet in several areas. They said they had been boating there for years and that the exercise should not remain suspended indefinitely.A local boatman said participants in Thursday’s exercise were required to swim 100 metres within three minutes. He said some weaker swimmers pushed themselves beyond their limits because their livelihoods depend on clearing the test. The boatman who collapsed became unwell near the end of the exercise.A forest department officer, however, said the collapse was linked to the boatman’s blood pressure condition. He said some boatmen had opposed the training from the start and were trying to turn the matter into a bigger issue. The officer also said several participants failed the test and alleged the medical episode was misrepresented.Local stakeholders claimed the practical tests were too demanding for some boatmen and said many had little experience with such exercises. The boatmen have demanded that the administration review the training process and ensure adequate safety measures before conducting further tests.
