Prayagraj: The authorities of city based Nav Jeevan Swimming club have begun training dogs to save people from drowning, as part of the development of rescue operations on on the ghats.Currently two dogs – six-months-old Rocky (Rottweiler breed) and Dovi (four-month-old Laborador breed) are being trained by water sports trainer, Tribhuwan Nishad near Meerapur ghat in city.
These dogs have already saved lives of two persons since the beginning of summer. Once fully trained, these dogs will get assignments at different ghats during summers. Nishad told TOI, “Not many people know about capacities of dogs as these dogs can swim as far as two kilometres away and carry up to three back to safety in addition to towing boats”.
Starting training of duo dogs on the banks of Yamuna a week back, each dog works in a team with its human lifeguard, who is also its trainer. The duo is trained to rescue drowning people. The dogs jump directly from a moving boat or running towards the victim after jumping into the water from a ghat to rescue a swimmer or person.
“Every summer season, scores of people of all age groups arrive different ghats of Ganga and Yamuna to enjoy the swimming in the fresh water. Life at many ghats can prove quite dangerous if they don’t know proper swimming and topography of ghat. Many people go into deep water level while ignoring the guidelines resulting in drowning. In such circumstances, swimmers or jal policemen have to intervene in many cases every year to rescue people”.
Apart fromr Rottweiler, other breeds like Labrador, Terranova and Golden Retriver are the most qualified dogs to be involved in the rescue operation as they have a natural water instinct. During training, every dog is also equipped with a harness for victims to hold on to, to make the rescue operation easier.
Trainers impart training to both the lifeguard and the dog throughout the year to prepare them to confront all the risks of summer season. They are credited with having saved several lives by taking lifebuoys to swimmers and towing them to safety.
These dogs have already saved lives of two persons since the beginning of summer. Once fully trained, these dogs will get assignments at different ghats during summers. Nishad told TOI, “Not many people know about capacities of dogs as these dogs can swim as far as two kilometres away and carry up to three back to safety in addition to towing boats”.
Starting training of duo dogs on the banks of Yamuna a week back, each dog works in a team with its human lifeguard, who is also its trainer. The duo is trained to rescue drowning people. The dogs jump directly from a moving boat or running towards the victim after jumping into the water from a ghat to rescue a swimmer or person.
“Every summer season, scores of people of all age groups arrive different ghats of Ganga and Yamuna to enjoy the swimming in the fresh water. Life at many ghats can prove quite dangerous if they don’t know proper swimming and topography of ghat. Many people go into deep water level while ignoring the guidelines resulting in drowning. In such circumstances, swimmers or jal policemen have to intervene in many cases every year to rescue people”.
Apart fromr Rottweiler, other breeds like Labrador, Terranova and Golden Retriver are the most qualified dogs to be involved in the rescue operation as they have a natural water instinct. During training, every dog is also equipped with a harness for victims to hold on to, to make the rescue operation easier.
Trainers impart training to both the lifeguard and the dog throughout the year to prepare them to confront all the risks of summer season. They are credited with having saved several lives by taking lifebuoys to swimmers and towing them to safety.