Rourkela: A four-year-girl drowned in a swimming pool here on Saturday while she was learning to swim, prompting the girl’s father to lodge an FIR against the lifeguard and the trainer, blaming them for her death. Police on Sunday registered a case of cognizable offence and initiated an investigation.
The incident took place at Hockey Village, a venue built by the state govt last year for the 2023 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup.The girl, Sumeha Singh, had started taking swimming lessons around a month back. Around 5pm on Saturday, Sumeha reached the swimming pool accompanied by her mother. There were 15-20 students when she went into the pool, in the presence of a trainer. Once the class got over, the students came out of the pool. When Sumeha didn’t, her mother asked the swimming pool staff present there about her and was told she may have gone to the washroom. Failing to find Sumeha there, her mother started searching for her everywhere. Later, Sumeha’s body was seen floating in the pool. She was taken out of the water and rushed to Ispat General Hospital where she was declared brought dead.
Later at night, Sumeha’s father, Sunny Singh, lodged an FIR at Chhend police station, alleging that his daughter drowned due to the negligence of the trainer and lifeguard of the swimming pool. “We have launched an investigation and we will take action against those responsible,” said N Tudu, sub-inspector, Chhend police station.

We also published the following articles recently