A 27-year-old youngster reportedly drowned and another was rescued near the Aapteshwar Temple in St Inez, Panaji, on Friday after the pond behind the same temple swelled due to heavy rainfall. According to some eyewitnesses, both individuals had entered the pond to bathe on that fateful afternoon despite it being hazardous due to the rising water level.
Today, most youngsters are seen (despite repeated warnings from the government) annually going for swims or picnics near such isolated ponds, waterfalls, abandoned quarries, rivers, lakes/similar natural water bodies across the state, especially during the monsoons, misbehaving after consuming alcohol and finally getting drowned at such places.
I therefore feel that the government should not just issue prohibitory orders every monsoon for name's sake but take strict action against such irresponsible people, impose hefty fines, if not put them behind bars for deliberately risking their lives and the lives of others by consuming alcohol and going for picnics at isolated dangerous places in different parts of the state. Hope better sense prevails...
