CANACONA
It was Sunday, and precisely the 17th of September, 2017, when Goan picknickers numbering around 40 in three different groups were enjoying the clear, clean and blue waters of the enchanting seasonal Nagarmodi waterfall in Chendia village of Karwar district of neighbouring Karnataka State.
The weekend outing for the Goan groups was like any other monsoon outing, but within a few minutes tragedy struck changing the course of many lives. At about 11.30 am on that fateful day an unprecedented deluge engulfed the waterfall that swept away six picnickers from Goa in a matter of few seconds.
Though the tragedy occurred after the water levels rose suddenly, reportedly due to heavy rains in the upper areas, the exact cause of that swelling remains a mystery, even as local residents claimed to have witnessed such flooding in the rivulet in the past.
Today, is the first death anniversary of the victims Frenzila Pires, 21, and Fiona Pacheco, 29, both from Raia, Salcete, Marcelina Estibeiro, 38, from Curtorim, Sameer Gavade, 32, from Keri, Ponda; Siddu Chari, 22, from Vasco; and Renuka.
While the bodies of the first two were retrieved the same afternoon, Estibeiro’s body was the last to be recovered from downstream in main Chendia river, near Karwar port. Four were declared missing on the day of the incident.
Incidentally, the tragedy of September 17, 2017, is not the first drowning incident at the Nagarmodi waterfall, which unfortunately had became a hit tourist attraction, especially for Goans during monsoon weekends and holidays.
In Sept 2016 a 16-year-old teenager from Pilar had drowned while picnicking at this waterfall. In another incident in August in the same year a group of Goan picknickers were rescued on time by the fire services after they were trapped in Nagarmodi forests, which is very close to the waterfall. Nagarmodi waterfall is located at the foot of a hillock in Nagarmodi ward of Chendia village and has only a pathway after a few metres of narrow road from NH-66 that goes into a residential ward, from where the visitors have to walk through dense vegetation to reach the spot.
The rivulet which flows from Nagarmodi waterfall passes under a small culvert bridge on NH-66 on the side of which a small temple of the deity is also located. The four of the six Goan picnickers who were swept away from Nagarmodi water fall under the culvert bridge on NH-66 straight into the sea, now occupied by the Seabird project.
Locals claim that now there are hardly any visitors coming to the waterfall. Even the few who unknowingly come to the area do not proceed further after being informed about the last September incident.
Residents feel the local authorities should put up safety measures in place or put a complete ban on entry to the area. A nearby resident Agnelo Fernandes, who has relatives in Goa, says knowing well the dangerous nature of the otherwise enchanting waterfall he hardly invites or even speaks of its beauty to any of his relatives. “But somehow people learn about the waterfall. The area is also highly known for its religious importance. Residents believe anything of unhygienic nature invites God’s wrath there,” he said.
However, this year, the number of visitors from Goa to the waterfall has dwindled, but there are many unsuspecting visitors from other places who still come attracted by the picturesque waterfall.
