Our research has advanced the understanding of drowning as a significant, yet largely preventable, cause of injury mortality in India. Through population-based mortality studies, verbal autopsy research, and health systems analyses, we have generated evidence that has informed national drowning prevention efforts and highlighted the need for context-specific interventions.

Our work has demonstrated that:

• Drowning is an important but under-recognised public health problem: Our research has provided robust population-based estimates of drowning mortality, demonstrating that drowning contributes substantially to preventable deaths in India while remaining under-recognised in public health priorities.
• Reliable mortality surveillance is essential for prevention: We have shown that many drowning deaths are not captured through routine reporting systems, highlighting the need to strengthen mortality surveillance and use population-based data to better understand the true burden of drowning.
• Drowning risk is shaped by age, sex, place and social disadvantage: Our studies have identified important disparities in drowning mortality, demonstrating that risk varies by age, sex, socioeconomic status, rural residence, and geography. These findings provide the evidence needed to target prevention efforts towards the most vulnerable populations.
• The circumstances surrounding drowning are predictable and preventable: By documenting activities immediately preceding drowning and the types of water bodies involved, our research has shown that drowning events occur in recognisable circumstances, creating opportunities for targeted environmental, behavioural, and community-based interventions.
• Children require dedicated drowning prevention strategies: Our work has highlighted the high burden of drowning among children and identified the environmental and contextual factors that increase their vulnerability. These findings support interventions such as improved supervision, safer play environments, barriers to water hazards, swimming and water safety education, and community-based prevention programmes.
• Timely rescue and access to care can improve survival: Our research has shown that a proportion of people who drown are initially recovered alive but die before receiving appropriate medical care, underscoring the importance of community rescue capacity, first response, and accessible emergency care.
• Evidence should drive national policy: Our work has contributed evidence that supports India’s National Strategic Framework for Drowning Prevention and provides practical guidance for developing targeted, locally relevant drowning prevention programmes.

Together, these contributions have helped shift the understanding of drowning from an isolated or accidental event to a predictable and preventable public health problem that requires stronger surveillance, multisectoral action, and evidence-informed policies.