Hyderabad: Following the alleged drowning of an 18-year-old girl in a swimming pool in Alwal on Sunday, the absence of a dedicated regulatory body for private swimming pools in Telangana came under scrutiny. A case of negligence was registered against the pool owner and the swimming coach. While the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) manages 14 govt swimming pools in the city, there is no authorised body monitoring safety compliance at the hundreds of private pools operating in clubs, hotels, gated communities and apartments. Currently, the onus of safety lies on private pool owners only. G Mahesh, state secretary of the Telangana Swimming Association (TSA), has raised serious concerns about the safety practices at these facilities. He claimed that many owners prioritise basic maintenance but neglect to hire qualified lifeguards or deploy life-saving equipment.“Since Sports Authority of India (SAI)-certified trainers and lifeguards demand higher salaries, many pool operators hire cheaper, unqualified staff to cut costs and increase profit margins. In some cases, there is no coach or lifeguard at all, despite the rule that a lifeguard is mandatory even if only one swimmer is in the pool,” said Mahesh, who is also a senior swimming coach. He added that unqualified personnel are often paid ₹10,000–₹15,000 per month, whereas certified lifeguards typically demand ₹30,000–₹40,000.Meanwhile, experts said that the number of lifeguards deployed must be proportional to the size of the pool. A standard 50-metre pool typically requires about six lifeguards, while a 25-metre pool should have at least three to four on duty. They also noted that many underqualified lifeguards at private facilities lack proper CPR and emergency response training.“All lifeguards on duty must be certified in CPR and basic life support, and undergo refresher training at regular intervals. This is the minimum safety standard for any swimming facility. However, many private pools are falling short of this essential requirement,” Mahesh added.In the Alwal case, while the exact cause of death will only be ascertained after the post-mortem report is released, police said that CCTV footage from the pool showed the victim suddenly collapsing while standing in water that was 3 feet deep. They also wrote to the GHMC to check if the pool was operating legally.Meanwhile, GHMC officials clarified that only municipal pools fall under the civic body’s purview, and these are adequately staffed with lifeguards and lifesaving equipment. They warned that many gated communities have ground-level pools where small children can easily slip in and drown.“While we can exercise some control through building permissions in gated communities, there is no clear-cut rule governing private pools. If someone has a pool on their private property, it becomes difficult to enforce safety regulations,” said an official from the GHMC sports wing.Meanwhile, N Rakesh, the manager of a private swimming facility in Banjara Hills, said that responsible operators already adhere to strict safety protocols, but he also acknowledged the need for uniform regulation. “At our pool, we ensure that certified lifeguards are present at all times, that staff are trained in CPR and that swimmers are continuously monitored. However, a city-wide mandatory guideline is required so that every private pool follows the same safety standards,” he said.Experts urged the municipal authorities to take the lead in establishing safety norms and conducting regular inspections, warning that, without stronger oversight, gaps in private pool safety could continue to pose risks.
