PANAJI
Beaches in Goa will be closed for swimming, with the onset of monsoon in the coming days, according to a senior official of Drishti Marine, a private agency appointed by the Goa government for carrying out rescue and relief operations on the state’s beaches and other water bodies.
“Our strong force of life-savers patrols Goa's beaches all year. On account of the monsoon and weather conditions which are expected to see heavy rain and high waves, red flags have been posted across all beaches under our supervision, which debar beachgoers from wading into the sea,” stated the officer.
“Due to the weather change and the onset of the monsoon showers, beaches will henceforth be closed for swimming,” said Navin Awasthi, chief executive officer (CEO) Drishti Marine.
“Water sports activity has also been suspended on Goa’s beaches. We have placed red flags at all beaches to indicate that the area is not suitable for swimming. Even wading into the water is not advised. Our team of lifesavers stationed along the coast is keeping an eye on the weather patterns and how they influence the seas. The team has been trained to perform rescues even in bad weather,” Awasthi said.
According to meteorology reports, cyclonic weather conditions in the Arabian Sea have already resulted in rough seas. The arrival of the monsoons in Goa has also led to the implementation of the ban by the state government on fishing in the seas from June 1 to July 31.
Visitors are advised to avoid rocky areas, cliffs and hills along the shoreline. During the monsoon season, these stretches are considered perilous due to their slippery nature.
The wave height, intensity and frequencies of the waves in the sea too are extremely high, making it easy for beachgoers to get pulled into the ferocious sea. The agency monitors sea conditions and weather conditions on a daily basis.
