PANAJI
Amid a spate of recent drowning incidents across Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has appealed to parents and the general public to exercise extreme caution around water bodies, particularly in areas marked as unsafe for swimming.
Expressing concern over recent fatalities involving children and young people, Sawant said he was “deeply pained” by these tragedies and stressed that the government has already identified hazardous locations and imposed bans on swimming at such sites, with prominent “No Swimming” signage in place.
“I appeal to the public, especially parents, not to allow children to venture into unsafe or unmonitored water bodies. Where there is no safety, there should be no attempt to swim,” he told reporters on Tuesday, urging public cooperation.
The State has witnessed a series of disturbing incidents in recent days. In the latest case on Monday, an eight-year-old boy drowned in a creek connected to Canaguinim Beach. His 17-year-old sister, Sanika, who jumped in to rescue him, was unable to save her brother and later died while undergoing treatment at Goa Medical College. Police said the boy had entered the creek unnoticed during a family picnic, and despite frantic rescue attempts by locals, both were declared dead.
A day earlier, on April 12, a 20-year-old from Panaji drowned in the Mhadei River at Bhironda in Sattari while on a picnic with friends. His body was later recovered and sent for a post-mortem.
In another incident on March 22, a 28-year-old man from Margao drowned in the same river near Valpoi. Rescue operations had to be suspended overnight due to poor visibility before the body was recovered the following morning.
A series of timely interventions by Drishti Marine lifeguards prevented further loss of life over the weekend, with six people, five tourists and one local, rescued from drowning along the beaches.
At Ashwem Beach, two women from Pune who had lost their balance in the water were rescued, while in a separate incident at the same beach, a 20-year-old man from Taleigao was pulled to safety after being swept into deeper waters by a sudden rip current.
At Calangute Beach, a 27-year-old tourist from Hyderabad was rescued after being caught in a strong rip current, with lifeguards responding swiftly using rescue equipment. Another double rescue was reported at Betalbatim Beach, where two women from Cortalim, aged 16 and 38, were brought safely ashore after struggling against strong waves.
