Tragedy reportedly struck a group of picnickers on Sunday as two persons drowned in Mainapi waterfall in Netravali in Sanguem taluka. In another tragic incident on Tuesday two youth died by drowning in quarries reported at Curdi and Cansaulim. This year there have been more incidents of drowning reported in the state than road accidents. School and college students should be advised not to swim in water bodies during the monsoon season both in the educational institutions as well as by elders at home. In the wake of recent cases of drowning deaths at locations outside the purview of the lifeguards, the Forest Department on Tuesday reportedly issued an order prohibiting entry for the public in all wildlife sanctuaries and waterfalls till further orders. This is a step in the right direction since due to continuous heavy rainfall and high water currents in the rivers these places are dangerous for swimming. It is also prudent to fence all stone quarries and mining pits in the state as they get filled with rain water and are dangerous for swimming.
