PANAJI
Seventy-one lives lost in just six months -- not to a single disaster, but to a steady chain of avoidable decisions made at beaches, rivers and waterfalls across Goa. From monsoon-lashed coastlines to deceptively calm inland waters, the State’s drowning toll in 2026 is no longer an episodic spike. It is a pattern repeating with alarming consistency, often ending the same way: warnings ignored, conditions underestimated, and rescue efforts arriving too late.
The latest victim was 34-year-old Karnataka tourist Ashpak Masali from Bijapur, who drowned at Baga beach after being swept away by powerful waves while sitting on rocks along the shoreline. The police, quoting his friend, said he was repeatedly warned about the rough sea conditions, but he remained on the rocks before a sudden surge dragged him into the sea. His body was recovered after a search operation.
The tragedy has become emblematic of Goa's biggest challenge in preventing drownings -- the warnings are there, but too often they are ignored.
While every drowning has its own circumstances, officials stated the same factors repeatedly emerge – visitors, if not all, entering rough seas during the monsoon, swimming in prohibited stretches of rivers, consuming alcohol before venturing into water, ignoring red flags, and underestimating the strength of currents.
The figures indicate how little has changed despite years of awareness campaigns. Goa had recorded 68 drowning deaths during the first five months of 2025. This year, the toll has already climbed to 71 by the end of June.
Warnings ignored, tragedy repeated
The trend is particularly worrying because many of the deaths were preventable. Victims were warned moments before disaster struck.
On June 22, two teenage cousins, natives of Karnataka, drowned in the Dudhsagar river at Tambdimal after ignoring repeated warnings from their 15-year-old sibling, who reminded them about the fatal drowning of four youths in the same river barely a week earlier. They entered the water anyway. The warning proved prophetic.
Days earlier, on June 14, four youths from Vasco, including three brothers aged 21, 19 and 19, lost their lives after venturing into the Dudhsagar river at Metawada during a picnic. One friend survived only because he managed to swim ashore and alert authorities, but by then it was too late to save the others.
The back-to-back tragedies have transformed stretches of the Dudhsagar river into one of Goa's deadliest drowning hotspots.
“Despite warning boards, physical barriers and a ban on river bathing, six lives have already been claimed along the river this season alone. Yet visitors continue to bypass gates, enter through alternate paths and treat the river as a recreational destination, particularly on weekends,” a government-registered tour guide told The Goan, adding that despite repeated warnings, many visitors continue to venture into risky areas around the waterfall and river.
Rescue network in place, but behaviour remains the weakest link
Goa today has a far more extensive beach safety system than it did nearly two decades ago. Drishti Marine was introduced in 2008 after the state recorded around 200 drowning deaths in 2007, prompting the government to establish a structured coastal lifesaving network.
The agency has since deployed more than 450 lifesavers across 58 locations -- 54 beaches and four inland water bodies, including Dudhsagar waterfall, Savri waterfall, Mhovacho Guno and Mayem Lake. On average, about 14 lifesavers are stationed at each location, while high-footfall beaches such as Baga, Calangute and Colva have around 22 personnel each.
The network includes 35 lifeguard towers operating from 7 am to 6 pm, followed by Beach Safety Patrols until midnight. The agency CEO Navin Awasthi stated that some of the recent drowning deaths did not occur at beaches under its operational jurisdiction. Even so, it said lifesavers continuously counsel visitors, explain the dangers of rough seas and repeatedly caution those attempting to enter unsafe waters or ignore red flags.
Officials from the Tourism department, Tourist police and even other stakeholders maintain that the challenge is that rescue systems often come into play only after a risky decision has already been made.
Two years back, the Diwali weekend saw lifeguards rescue 17 people, including two Kazakhstan nationals, in more than 10 separate drowning incidents across Goa.
The sea changes in seconds
The pattern extends beyond rivers. Goa's coastline becomes significantly more dangerous during the southwest monsoon as strong tides, rip currents and high waves make even experienced swimmers vulnerable. “Beaches that appear calm can turn hostile within moments, while rocky outcrops become particularly hazardous because powerful waves can suddenly pull unsuspecting visitors into deep water,” said a senior tourism official.
Yet photographs on rocks, brief dips in the sea and attempts to experience rough waves continue despite repeated advisories from lifeguards and authorities.
“The concentration of young victims has added another dimension to the crisis. Many of those who drowned were in their late teens, twenties or thirties. Several incidents involved groups where only one or two members recognised the danger while others proceeded into the water,” he said.
Even the IMD has gone beyond weather warnings, advising that tourists should be prevented from entering the sea during hazardous conditions.
Appeals continue as toll rises
The latest drowning at Baga has once again put the spotlight on the limits of advisories when visitors choose to ignore them. While the Tourism Department has, for now, refrained from indicating whether stricter enforcement measures are being considered, it has renewed its appeal for tourists to treat beach safety advisories as mandatory rather than optional.
Director of Tourism Kedar Naik said the department, in coordination with Goa Police, lifeguards and other agencies, continues to spread awareness about prevailing sea conditions and beach safety protocols.
"Every effort is made to ensure a safe environment, but personal safety is also an individual responsibility. Respecting warning signs, avoiding restricted areas and exercising caution are essential to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience in Goa," he said, speaking to The Goan.
The department said it would continue working with all concerned agencies to strengthen visitor awareness and promote responsible tourism, urging tourists to stay out of the sea during the monsoon, avoid rocky stretches and comply with instructions issued by lifeguards, police and local authorities.
When fines fail to deter
The Tourist Police, meanwhile, can penalise those violating safety norms under the Goa Maintenance and Protection of Tourist Places Act. Fines range from Rs 500 and can go up to Rs 50,000 for repeat violations.
Officials, however, concede that enforcement alone is not always enough.
Sources said the Tourist Police, despite a slight shortage of personnel, frequently encounter visitors who ignore repeated warnings and venture into dangerous waters. "Even after being fined, the visitors, mostly tourists, don’t behave. The bigger challenge is changing their mindset before an accident happens,” one of the officials said.
