Team Herald

PANJIM: A day after an unfortunate incident of death of a Delhi tourist at Candolim Beach was reported, the Congress on Saturday has raised questions on the much hyped Beach Safety and Lifeguarding Services of Tourism Department on which Government has spent almost Rs 141.50 crore in last five years.

While the husband died, his wife was injured after lightning struck the couple on Friday.

“The videos posted on various social media platforms and reports from eyewitnesses have revealed that there were no rescue vehicles and stretchers available at Candolim Beach when the incident took place,” Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar said in a press statement issued.

“The injured tourists were lifted by the public with bare hands and taken to the 108 Ambulance which was parked at a far away distance,” he said.

Chodankar demanded that Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant explain to the Goans whether Beach Safety and Lifeguard Services are available in Goa, as the reply given in the Assembly by the Tourism Minister on August 17, 2019 has categorically stated that the contract of M/s Drishti Lifesaving Pvt Ltd expired on June 30, 2019.

“The Lifeguard and Beach Safety contract makes it mandatory for the contractor to provide with Equipments/Infrastructure in good working condition during the contract,” he said.

“The Chief Minister should come clean on whether the emergency equipments, rescue vehicle etc were available on the beach when the lightning struck and tourist got injured,” Chodankar stated.

“It is mandatory for the contractor to have CCTV Camera coverage on the beaches and high power cameras installed for night surveillance,” he added.