Goa has been synonymous with swimming because of the tourism and hospitality culture and the sea and sand it is always known for. However, lately, the State is facing a grim reality of youngsters, especially kids, drowning in swimming pools of resorts or hotels and open water canals which run through villages. These deaths are preventable and paint a disturbing picture of negligence and a blatant disregard for safety. The rising toll warrants a critical examination of where responsibility lies and why stringent measures remain elusive.
An 8-year-old girl drowned at a canal at Sirvoi in Quepem on Sunday while another 3-year-old girl from South Delhi drowned at a swimming pool of an Agonda resort on Monday. There have been 9 such drowning deaths in the last nine days. While it is undeniably heart-wrenching to witness such tragedies, there is a need to hold both establishments and parents/guardians responsible.
Hotels and resorts have a responsibility to provide a safe environment, which includes having well-maintained pools and trained personnel to oversee operations. They must strictly enforce rules prohibiting unattended minors. The lack of full-fledged, attentive pool attendants and the seemingly lackadaisical enforcement of pool rules and regulations are areas that need to be looked at. The recurring nature of such incidents suggests a systemic problem. The question that arises is why are there no penalties, including blacklisting of resorts that repeatedly flout safety regulations? The absence of strict government oversight and punitive measures creates an environment where negligence can flourish.
That being said, guardians too have a responsibility. Parents and accompanying adults are primarily responsible for supervising their children, especially in potentially unsafe areas like swimming pools. Leaving a young child unattended, even for a short period, is a grave lapse in judgment that pool attendants may not be able to fully mitigate.
Beyond the confines of private resorts, the open canals of Goa have become silent killers. The reported five deaths in these canals over the past two years, including young children and adults, are a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in seemingly innocuous waterways. While concerns about swimming in open mining pits, which have also claimed numerous lives, are rightly raised, the canals are equally, if not more, perilous. The deceptive nature of their water flow, often underestimated, can quickly pull individuals under.
The lack of government action against swimming in these dangerous areas is baffling. Public awareness campaigns are crucial, but in the face of repeated fatalities, an outright ban, coupled with visible signage and possibly even physical barriers in high-risk areas, are necessary steps.
Goa's drowning dilemma runs deep -- from beaches to rainwater-filled mining pits, water canals, water bodies and swimming pools.
While individual responsibility plays a crucial role, holding accountable those who are demonstrably negligent (be it individuals or establishments) and implementing bans on swimming in known death traps are major steps that need to be immediately taken, otherwise these tragedies will continue to shake Goa, jeopardizing its reputation and, more importantly, costing precious lives. The time for passive observation is over; urgent and decisive action is needed to turn the tide on this preventable crisis.
