Team Herald
CALANGUTE: The Baga-Calangute-Candolim-Sinquerim beach-belt, which sees the highest number of tourists in the state, was the busiest beach stretch for Drishti lifeguards in 2022 with 316 rescues. They also helped in reuniting 80 missing children in Calangute and Baga with their parents last year, Drishti Marine said in a statement on Thursday.
On the flip side, four persons drowned in the waters during the year.
“Drishti had started operations in Goa in 2008 after there were 200 drowning cases in 2007, which prompted the state government to take immediate measures and put together an efficient lifeguards system. This has led to a 99 per cent reduction in deaths due to drowning,” Drishti said.
Altogether 456 persons were rescued along the coast from January to December last year, with the highest number in the Calangute-Candolim tourism hub.
Total 45 persons were rescued from Arambol, 30 from Morjim followed by Vagator (27), Ashwem (12), and Miramar (12). In South Goa, Palolem reported 30 incidents and Colva 21.
October, which marks the beginning of Goa’s tourism season, witnessed the highest rescues with 118 rescues, followed by 67 in December and 63 in last May.
The rescues cover water-based rescues, medical situations and administration of first aid. Several of the water-based rescues included saving more than one person at a time.
Navin Awasthi, operations head of Drishti Marine said, “The highest number of individuals involved in beach-related incidents where in the age group of 26 to 35 years, which accounted for 153 rescues, followed by the age group of 19 to 25 years (129) and then ages below 12 years (124).
“From January to December, there were 109 cases of missing children, where young ones wandered away from their families, forcing frantic parents and family members to reach out to the lifesavers for help. The Drishti team successfully reunited all the missing children with their parents,” he said.
Calangute beach had the most missing children incidents at 45, followed by Baga with 35 and Colva with 11.
The Drishti team is also the first responder to any medical emergencies which arise on the state’s coast. In 2022, 112 people were assisted in recovery from medical incidents, while first-aid was administered to 40 individuals.
Of the total incidents, 585 were Indian citizens including residents from the state, while 45 were foreigners.
Over 6,000 lives have been saved since Drishti began operations in 2008, according to the lifesaving agency.
