the goan I network
QUEPEM
A 34-year-old man from Karnataka drowned in the Salaulim main canal at Tilamol-Quepem on Tuesday evening
The body of Santosh Naik was found floating in the canal at Deulmol-Quepem on Wednesday morning and villagers notified the fire department at Curchorem.
A fire brigade went to the site and retrieved the body from the canal and handed it over to Quepem Police.
Initially, the identity of the deceased was not known and Quepem police alerted police stations all over Goa to inquire about any report of a missing person.
The deceased was later identified as Santosh Naik, a labourer employed at Jai Ganesh hardware at Takki near Tilamol, by the owner of the hardware store and the co-workers.
According to the co-workers, Naik had reportedly gone to participate in the “Gulal” at Sri Damodar Devastan, Zambaulim more popularly known as “Zambaulim Gulal”.
It is believed that while returning home, he must have taken a plunge into the canal for a bath like many other devotees, to wash off the “gulal” from their face and body.
It is also believed that Naik must have drowned in the water and the incident went unnoticed by the huge crowd of devotees having a bath there.
The body has been sent for a post mortem and further investigation is underway.
The Curchorem fire team involved in retrieving the body from the canal included fire station incharge N R Dhargalkar, K Bandodkar, Arun Ghatmogle, Girish Naik and M M D’Costa.
Locals raise concerns about
unruly visitors
QUEPEM: Locals residing near the Salaulim main canal between Tilamol and Bobrumoddi in Quepem have renewed concerns about unruly visitors to the canal.
While admitting that the drowning incident on Tuesday may have been a freak mishap, locals claimed that a lot of unruly tourists and locals bathe in the water at the canal during weekends and holidays. “Tourist come with liquor and food and are seen in the water all day long where some are seen in a drunk state. None of the authorities are taking any action against them,” said James Oliveira of Daulmol.
He said locals had complained to Quepem police several times about the nuisance caused by these visitors, who go with loud music, cook with firewood at the canal, consume alcohol and discard garbage. “But no action is being taken till date. Authorities must quick action to prevent these unruly visits and prevent drowning incidents in the canal,” said Oliveira.
