MAPUSA
In yet another alarming instance of reckless behaviour by tourists, a rent-a-car Thar jeep allegedly driven rashly by a visitor rammed into a two-wheeler at Parra on Monday morning, seriously injuring a brother–sister duo.
The driver fled the spot with the vehicle, highlighting once again the growing menace of irresponsible tourists on Goa’s roads.
Police said the Thar was travelling from Calangute towards Mapusa when it collided with the two-wheeler heading towards Calangute. The impact threw the riders – 13-year-old Narendra Chavan, who was on his way to school, and his sister Nikita Chavan (21), who was heading to work in Baga – onto the road. Both suffered fractures and are undergoing treatment at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Bambolim.
Local residents immediately rushed to help, shifting the injured siblings first to the North Goa District Hospital in Mapusa and later to GMC.
Meanwhile, the tourist driving the Thar absconded with the vehicle. The jeep was later traced parked near the Mopa airport.
Mapusa Police are now trying to track down the rent-a-car owner to identify the driver.
The incident has reignited public anger over the growing threat posed by unruly tourists who, emboldened by lax enforcement, frequently flout traffic rules. Over the past few weeks, social media has been flooded with visuals of tourists engaging in dangerous antics – including a recent viral video showing a visitor hanging out of a moving car.
Residents say such behaviour has become routine, turning Goa’s roads into accident traps for locals. They have once again called on authorities to crack down on reckless driving, enforce stricter penalties, and regulate rent-a-car operations more stringently.
As cases of brazen and irresponsible tourist behaviour continue to rise, locals warn that without decisive action, the safety of Goans – especially daily commuters – will remain at risk, and the State’s reputation as a safe destination will further deteriorate.
