PANAJI
Around 35 lives were lost due to drowning in Goa in the last few years at mining pits, stone quarries, canals and waterfalls that were reported.
On September 15, 2019, four students had drowned in a water-filled laterite quarry in Tuem village after they ventured for a swim. They were part of a 43-member group from a school that had come on a trek.
From 2017 to 2022, five persons aged between 19 and 25 years including a Russian national got drowned in the laterite stone quarries in Pernem itself.
In another case a 21-year-old boy Raj Lotlikar from Margao drowned in a quarry at Revora in September 2020.
It was a tragic July 2023 for two youth who drowned in quarries in separate incidents at Curdi and Cansaulim.
On July 11, 2023, a 16-year-old boy from Shantinagar-Vasco drowned in a laterite stone quarry filled with water in a remote area of Cansaulim morning.
According to sources, Anil Shankar Chawan, a student of Std 11th commerce, had gone to the laterite quarry at Cuelim-Cansaulim for a swim along with two other boys, who were also students of the same higher secondary school.
On July 11, 2023, a youth from Curpem-Curdi drowned in a quarry. Sarvesh Tulshidas Wadekar (21) of Curpem-Curdi had reportedly left his house at around 6.30 pm citing personal reasons. His mobile and slippers were found at a nearby mining pit.
On November 19, 2023, the body of teenager Derrick Raj from Mumbai, who was feared drowned in an abandoned stone quarry at Chimbel, was recovered with the help of private divers. Raj along with six other friends had gone to the quarry for an outing where he drowned trying to save a girl from group.
On May 26 this year, a 17-year-old youth from St Inez, Panjim, died due to drowning in a water-filled laterite stone quarry at Bhatwadi-Nanora, Bicholim.
The deceased, identified as Mohit Kashyap, had gone for a swim at the quarry along with a group of six friends, all from Panjim. Two of his friends, who almost got drowned with him, were rescued.
