Odisha Launches Lifeguard Training Drive at Konark to Boost Water Tourism Safety

Bhubaneswar: In a major step towards strengthening safety infrastructure for water-based tourism, the Odisha government has launched a comprehensive residential lifeguard training programme at the Odisha State Watermanship and Lifeguard Institute in Konark, with the first batch commencing on Monday.

The intensive programme will be conducted in 11 continuous batches, each lasting 12 days, over a span of nearly one and a half months. In this phase, a total of 176 government and private lifeguards will undergo training. The curriculum focuses on critical skills such as rescue operations, CPR and first aid, open water safety, disaster response, tourist management, and watersports safety protocols.

The initiative builds on earlier efforts by the Department of Tourism Odisha to position the state as a safe and leading destination for adventure and coastal tourism. To strengthen technical capacity, the department has partnered with the National Institute of Water Sports and Odisha Fire and Emergency Services through formal agreements aimed at enhancing training standards and safety systems.

Officials said the programme is part of a broader plan to train nearly 2,000 lifeguards across the state over the next two to three years. The training modules are aligned with national certification standards, ensuring uniformity and quality in skill development.

To support systematic deployment, authorities have already completed mapping of waterbodies across all 30 districts, identifying key locations for lifeguard placement. Efforts are also underway to create a district-wise pool of trained youth for future deployment.

The trained personnel from the current phase will be stationed at major tourist destinations, including Puri and Chandrabhaga Beach, along with other prominent coastal and inland sites.

The continuous training model is expected to accelerate capacity building and significantly enhance safety preparedness ahead of the peak tourist season, officials added.