The numbers make for distressing reading. This year, so far around seventy people have drowned in the waters off the coast. Forty three in North Goa and twenty seven in the South Goa and the numbers keep increasing every other day. With the tourists generally having the attitude that what happens in Goa, stays in Goa, accidents continue to happen. It could be that young couple who were taking a selfie on the rocks and slipped when a giant wave lashed against the rock or the young corporate professional from Mumbai who had one too many to drinks and decided to go into the waters because he wanted to chill. Death due to drowning is a problem in Goa, in the rest of the country and around the world.
Every year, an estimated 236,000 people drown, making drowning a major public health problem worldwide. The United Nations declared July 25, World Drowning Prevention Day. This global advocacy event serves as an opportunity to highlight the tragic and profound impact of drowning on families and communities and to offer life-saving solutions to prevent it.
In Goa, this advocacy is being done by Roland Martins of GoaCan. It has been observing a fortnight long awareness initiative on the need for drowning prevention measures in the State so as to get action related responses from Government officials, elected representatives, heads of educational institutions, parents teachers associations, NGOs and industry and trade associations among others.
The awareness fortnight which will end today is part of the ongoing campaign by GoaCan to highlight the need for acceptance that drowning is an important cause of accidental deaths in Goa and that these deaths are preventable.
Roland Martins, coordinator of GoaCan says that they highlight an issue related to drowning prevention every year. In 2022, they highlighted the problem of quarries. This year, they looked at the tragic deaths in the recent past of children, students, youth and adults from Goa as well as tourists, due to drowning in rivers, wells, water tanks and unused quarries. He says it is important that the government implement some standard operating procedures. These procedures should be publicized so people can understand and follow to avoid having an accident. He says, “Various departments have to look at their jurisdiction. The tourism department has to be aggressive in promoting safety. The forest department, agriculture, tourism department, animal husbandry and veterinary services, fire and emergency services and Goa police should be involved.”
GoaCan had begun its campaign in July 2020 to make consumers and all stakeholders aware about the importance of an action plan to prevent drowning cases in the unused laterite stone quarries of Goa.
Subsequently, GoaCan highlighted in April 2021 the increase in drowning cases occurring in the river at Kodar in Ponda Taluka, in May 2021, the need for Preventive Action to avoid drowning cases during the monsoons in the stone quarries of Bardez and Sattari Talukas and in July 2021 to prevent drowning cases in the river at Okamb in Dharbandora Taluka.
Several people involved in training Goans to swim had much to say about why people drown. Indrajeet Khadilkar has been a coach for seven years and teaches people to swim in the sea. He has around fifty to sixty students, children and adults. Asked the reason why people drown, he said many were drunk, or negligent or suffered from overconfidence or just did not know how to swim. He said overconfidence was a big problem. Indrajeet says, “You have to understand that even really good swimmers can drown. We all stay away from unknown waters. The monsoon is not a good time to go swimming. It is a no swim zone all over Goa during the monsoons. People should talk to locals before going in the water and they should also talk to life guards and importantly listen to what they say.”
He has several students who are life guards. He bemoaned the fact that many tourists would have fights with the life guards. Many of them would be drunk and would want to go swimming and when they would be warned of the dangers of indulging in such behaviour they would get abusive and even get physically aggressive. Indrajeet says that experienced swimmers are drawn to the water but had the sense to stay away, especially in the monsoons. Another big problem he says was of individuals or couples taking selfies standing precariously on the rocks and then both or one of them would get swept away by a wave.
Another trainer, Gautam Adhikari, who conducts sessions on Bambolim beach said it was not unusual to see people drunk on the beach. Many, he said, would not listen to the lifeguard and would go in. He says, “When the wave comes and their feet are not touching the ground they then panic and lose the battle. You have to remain calm and comfortable. If you become stiff, it is not good.”
He says there were many good lifeguards who represented the state and won medals and had gone on to work in the government. Gautam says, “In Baga, the tourists were fighting with the guards. They understand the sea, they warn the tourists of the dangers involved in tides and especially in low tides where at its peak coming back to the beach can be a struggle. People just don’t seem to understand.”
Gaurav Apte, a senior corporate executive and swimmer who has participated in the Ironman said it was important to never underestimate nature because the wrath of nature could be vicious. In the monsoons, he says it is safe to swim in the pool. “Most beaches have red flags which are ignored by tourists. It was important to know the tides,” says Gaurav.
At the end of the day, it will always depend on the individual going into the water to gauge his or her sense of being safe before going into the water. Prudence is better than tears later.