Sebastian Noronha
The drowning and subsequent death of the 5 Maharashtra-based tourists off Calangute beach is indeed an unfortunate incident. My deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the families and loved ones of the deceased.
Having said that, I would also like to add, that before we jump onto the blame-game wagon about how the authorities are to be blamed, and how the life-guards are possibly at fault, and how there should be more warning signboards, we should also realise the level of responsibility that we, as beach-goers, need to exercise.
Insensitive is how I maybe coming across, but I categorically and matter-of-factly say here that it was utterly foolish of these vacationers to have ventured into the sea especially given that it is the monsoon season. Isn’t it common knowledge that the ocean can be merciless even in the summers when it is relatively calmer? Do I need a signboard to tell me that? I think not!
Who in their right minds would put their own lives at risk like this? According to me only a person who vainly considers himself/herself to be invincible would do so.
This has been a clear display of irresponsible behaviour, where these tourists seem to have deliberately asked for trouble, and they got exactly what they asked for. And in a way where the remaining 9 survivors will never ever forget for the rest of their irresponsible lives!
I mean, come on, granted that there have to be notices put up along the coastline, and that the life-guards have to be perpetually vigilant. But seriously, somebody please tell me, as a mature adult doesn’t each of us know a basic fact about how rough the sea gets during monsoons? Do we need a signboard to tell us that? Seriously?
As for me, even though I live so close to the beach, I avoid even going close to the beach during monsoons. Just the looming roar of the ocean is enough to send shivers down my spine. And signboard or not, I wouldn’t dare stepping into the sea.
So before we even start blaming others for the misfortune that befell the victims, let us understand a basic fact that our safety is primarily our own concern.
Blaming others especially in an incident like this is like deliberately banging your head on an electricity pole and then complaining that the Electricity Department should put a warning board on the pole saying, “Pole made of reinforced concrete. May be hard. Do not bang your head!”
Brings to mind the age-old adage: “Prevention is better than cure.”
And in this case, unfortunately, death doesn’t even have a cure!
