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Sameer Gaude, who got married to Teja barely one-and-half years ago, was picnicking at the spot with four college mates, when he got caught in the sudden swell in waters at the falls on Sunday afternoon. The body was recovered on Monday morning and was brought to Keri later in the evening.
He is survived by wife Teja, mother Vijaya, brother Nirghosh and sister Vinda Ghodkirekar. His father, Chandrakant Gaude, had passed away last year.
Employed as accounts officer at a firm in Marcaim Industrial Estate, Sameer was active in social field and cultural activities.
Several people from different walks of life, including Priol MLA and Minister for Art and Culture Govind Gaude, attended the funeral of Sameer Gaude.
According to relatives, Sameer and four collage mates drove to Karwar in his car and had gone to the waterfalls. His friends were also in the water when the water rose suddenly, but they survived in the incident.
"We have been told by his friends that the water pressure was such that he hit a rock in the river and injured his face. This must have made him unconscious and he could not save himself," a relative told The Goan.
On hearing news of the tragedy, his brother-in-law, Dr Maddhu Ghodkirekar, along with some villagers had left for Karwar on Sunday night. He had lodged a missing complaint with Karwar police and the body was recovered the next morning.
Family members recalled that his college mates had reunited after almost a decade and had planned a picnic at Karwar.
Gloom in Vasco ward as body arrives
VASCO: Residents of Mestawaddo in Vasco were grieving over the tragic death of Siddesh Chari (22) at the Nagarmadi falls in Karwar, as the body was brought to Goa on Monday evening.
A large crowd around Vasco gathered at the Chari family house to mourn the loss of Siddesh, who had gone on a picnic with a group of 16 others from the locality.
Siddesh had been missing since Sunday's tragic incident and the body was recovered on Monday morning.
Vasco MLA Carlos Almeda, former minister Jose Philip D'Souza, Mormugao Councillors Nandadeep Raut, Reema Sonurlekar and Krishna Salkar were among those who were present at the Chari house. Darshil Valavalkar, an eyewitness and a close friend of Siddesh, who survived the tragedy, recalled the entire incident with tears in his eyes.
"A group of 16 persons had planned the picnic and shortlisted the Nagarmadi falls in Karwar after searching on the net for a picnic spot. We had left in two vehicles and once we reached the spot, we noticed some warning boards. We mixed around with other people who were from different parts of Goa, also on a picnic," recalled Darshil.
"While we were in the water at about 1.50 pm, I I noticed that the ankle-deep water had suddenly turned dark brown. In no time, the water was rising and knee-deep. Immediately, small kids and some others around us moved to safety."
"It was probably a bad signal that we suddenly found three apples appearing from nowhere in the waters flowing at full speed. As we turned to around to see from where the apples had suddenly appeared, a huge gush of water came from above a big rock behind behind our backs and six persons from our group were washed away in a fraction of a second."
Darshil also was hit by the swelling waters and had given up any chance of survival.
"I thought I would die, when I was miraculously pulled out by a small boy. I then took support of a rock and a tree and managed to pull two others out from danger."
"Three persons were still in the waters clinging to rocks and trees, while we along with other members formed a human chain and held our hands firmly. We had held on to Siddesh too, but but at that moment, one person flowing in the strong waters hit Siddesh with such force, that we lost Siddesh and he was gone," recollected Darshil.
Darshil informed that the man who banged against Siddesh got stuck in a rock along with his friends for more than two hours till the water level came down and all three of them from their group got to safety.
Asked how locals from Karwar and police had helped the group, Darshil replied: "We had parked our vehicles on reaching Chendia and parking fees were collected"
"The locals along with the Karwar MLA's brother had been of great help and also provided us shelter at the MLA's cottage,' said Darshil.
Othersin the neighbourhood described Siddesh as a very calm person who mixed around well with everyone from the locality.
"He was living with his elder brother and uncle after he had lost both his parents around 6 years back. He was working in his father's garage at Mestwada after his parents had passed away and had recently applied for a job in Goa Shipyard Limited," said a person closely known to Siddesh.
