Pimpri-Chinchwad: 23-Year-Old Youth Drowns In Khivansara Swimming Pool; Questions Raised On Safety Measures

Pimpri, 21st April 2025: A 23-year-old man, Shahbaz Shahid Khan, tragically drowned in the Khivansara Swimming Pool in Pimpri-Chinchwad on Sunday (20th April) afternoon. The incident occurred around 4.00 pm while Shahbaz was swimming and reportedly began experiencing difficulty in breathing. He was immediately pulled out of the water and rushed to the municipal hospital in Thergaon, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Eyewitnesses claim that had the lifeguards acted sooner, Shahbaz’s life might have been saved. This incident has sparked concerns about the safety and management of municipal swimming facilities, especially during the peak summer season when hundreds of children enroll for swimming lessons.

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has outsourced the management of all its swimming pools to private contractors. However, many of these contractors have been criticized for negligence. With the influx of learners during summer vacations, these contractors allegedly overbook batches, sometimes charging fees between ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 per month, without ensuring adequate safety arrangements.

Critics argue that sufficient infrastructure and properly trained lifeguards are essential during training sessions. Allegations have also been made that some contractors prioritize profits over safety, admitting more learners than manageable and compromising on supervision.

The incident has raised pressing questions about the accountability of these private contractors and the oversight by the municipal authorities.

Commenting on the incident, officials stated that there were four lifeguards on duty at the time. “The youth was pulled out immediately and administered CPR. He had vomited, and was rushed to the hospital, but unfortunately could not be saved. He had just started attending swimming lessons the previous day.”