SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
SHYAM ZAMBAULIKAR
BETUL: Betul-Naqueri is engulfed in sorrow as the village mourns the loss of 11-year-old Siaraj Joshi, who drowned in the River Sal during a fishing expedition on Wednesday. The boy, currently in the sixth standard at a boarding school in Borim, had returned home for the Diwali vacation to spend time with his family. His father, Pradeep Joshi, who works as a pigmy collector in Betul and Velim, was devastated by the untimely demise of his only son, who drowned only a few metres away from their home.
The spot, usually crowded with locals, picnickers, and fishing enthusiasts, witnessed fewer visitors due to the Cricket World Cup semi-final match on Wednesday.
According to the Cuncolim Police, the tragic accident occurred when Siaraj, along with two friends, Sairaj Samant, 14, and Arav Vadekar, 11, who lived in the same vaddo, decided to take a swim in the River Sal after a fishing outing. Police said that both Sairaj Samant and Siaraj Joshi jumped into the water for a swim after the fishing. However, they started drowning. Arav Vadeker, who was already close to the shore, cried for help. Police said that a young man who was fishing around 20 metres away saw the two boys struggling in the water and bravely jumped in, and managed to rescue Sairaj Samant, a Class VII student in a Chinchinim school.
He brought Samant back to the shore and immediately rushed back in to save Siaraj Joshi, but despite extensive efforts, the boy could not be traced.
Vincent Simoes, a local resident, recalled a similar incident occurring at the spot years ago, emphasising that the location is typically crowded, as there is also a temple close by. “Sairaj Joshi’s home was hardly a few metres away. It was unfortunate that this spot was secluded yesterday,” he rued.
Police were informed, and a search operation, including the coast guard, was initiated. The lifeless body of Siaraj Joshi was discovered floating in the River Sal on Thursday. Cuncolim PI Diogo Gracias said they promptly retrieved the body and arranged for its preservation and post-mortem examination at the South Goa District Hospital.
The boarding school staff, family members and local panchayat representatives visited the bereaved family to express their condolences. The post-mortem report is awaited, and statements from family members will be recorded as part of the ongoing investigation.
