Cuttack: The district administration will create "safe bathing zones" along the Mahanadi river to prevent drowning incidents.

Collector Sushant Mohapatra told The Telegraph that these zones would be created at the ghats where people bathe.

"We have asked the state irrigation department's Mahanadi south division to identify the ghats where the safe zones can be created," he said.

The Mahanadi south division is expected to suggest two ghats along the river in the first phase. "They have been asked to complete the job within two weeks."

Mohapatra said the safe zones would include metallic netting at the bathing area to prevent people from slipping away into the deep river and drowning.

"No permanent construction will, however, be taken up in view of the National Green Tribunal restrictions," the collector said.

"The Mahanadi south division will undertake the work shortly after the ghats are identified."

Official sources said the total length of embankment of the river along the city between the Naraj barrage and the Mahanadi is 9-10km.

There are about six to seven ghats that people use to bathe in. Some of these have become vulnerable because of the presence of quicksand.

"Most of the drowning incidents occur because of poor assessment of water level and presence of quicksand," a Mahanadi south division official said. The Gadagadia ghat has become the most vulnerable point in recent years because of the presence of quicksand formed from a mixture of sand and silt deposits, the official said.

The Chahata ghat is another vulnerable point because of the deep slope in the riverbed close to the embankment and high water level, the official said.

A district official said the preventive plan included signage with pictorial warnings at both the ghats as well as the one at Jobra. The warning signage will also include the dates and number of people drowned at the spot.