Bhubaneswar, Oct. 28: A group of 14 divers from the state are training on the techniques of recovering dead bodies from water bodies at the National Institute of Watersports in Goa.

The divers will be trained on techniques of diving up to 30ft underneath without using any equipment. They will also be trained on life-saving techniques and operating rescue boats.

The team includes four homeguards from Gopalpur and four tribal boys from Sundargarh. The others hail from Rourkela, Jajpur, Cuttack and Khurda. They will be trained on ascertaining the behaviour of a corpse underwater and factors that affect its buoyancy, sinking and drifting.

Scuba diver Sabir Bux is leading the team and following the training, the divers will assist policemen and fire officials at their respective areas during rescue and recovery operations.

"They will be trained both physically and theoretically. A lot of important aspects such as using GPS under water and legal issues related to rescue activities will be covered during the training," said Bux.

Once they complete the course, the divers will be given a license from the central government to take part in rescue operations that would be valid for two years.

"Officials often invited me during underwater operations and they complain that there are very few divers trained in search and recovery of dead bodies. The training would help bridge the shortage to some extent," he said.

Bux had earlier trained 100 young swimmers who were stationed at Puri beach to prevent accidents and act swiftly in emergency situations during Nabakalebar.

The ten-day training will conclude on October 29.

The department of sports and youth affairs of the Odisha state also sent a team of five divers to the Aqua Spirit Water Sports Meet to be held at Rameswaram on October 31 and November 1.

The divers participating at the event in various disciplines, including kayaking, wind surfing, swimming and beach volleyball have been trained by the Kalinga Divers and Odisha Yachting Association.