TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Holi-related revelry claimed one life, while two persons drowned and one person died in a road mishap in four separate incidents at Chicalim, Valpoi, Old Goa and Panjim on Monday.
In the first incident, Holi celebrations ended in tragedy for a group of about 12 boys, when a Standard 8 student of Regina Mundi High School, Chicalim, drowned in the saline floodplains (Khazan) at Chicalim on Monday.
According to John Fernandes of Chicalim, the incident took place at about 9.30 am when a group of about 12 young revellers, fully soaked with Holi colour, had gone to bathe in the Khazan. “As the boys were bathing, there was sudden commotion and two boys were struggling in the water,” said Fernandes.
Fernandes further informed that he along with his other friends rushed to help the two struggling boys and managed to save Valenky Noronha. “By the time we rescued Noronha, his friend, Allabaksh Jhangir, disappeared in the water,” added Fernandes.
“Noronha was shifted out of the Khazan in an unconscious state and after administering first aid, Noronha regained consciousness. He was rushed to GMC Hospital at Bambolim, where he is undergoing medical treatment and is reported to be recovering,” informed Fernandes.
Fernandes said the Vasco fire tender was also pressed into service and the body of Jhangir was retrieved at about 5.30 pm.
Speaking to Herald, Manoj Halankar, a teacher of Regina Mundi High School who was present at the site, confirmed that most boys from the group who had gone to the Khazan to bathe were from the school. “Noronha is studying in Std 9, while Jhangir was in Std 8,” informed Halankar.
The father of the deceased boy told Herald that his son, Allabaksh, had left their home in the morning on the pretext of going to play Holi with his friends.
“As children wanted to enjoy Holi, I allowed him to go but I never thought that my son will never return to me,” said the inconsolable father.
“I came to know about the tragedy at about 11 am and if I knew that he would go for a bath at the Khazan after playing Holi, I would have not allowed him to meet his friends and play Holi,” added the father.
Meanwhile, two accidents at Velsao with minor injuries were reported at Verna Police and Holi-related fights were registered at Vasco Police station.
In Panjim, one person died after a group of four persons had gone for a swim opposite the Children’s Park in Campal, police said.
The four were apparently working in the Panjim market and had gone for a swim.
In the third tragedy, a 26-year-old man drowned in the river when a group of 10 youth from Vasco had gone for a picnic at ‘Mahavachi Gundo’ in Sonal-Valpoi on Monday afternoon.
According to Valpoi Police, the group was returning home at about 4 pm, when Shivappa Bassappa Gangur, who was walking behind, accidentally fell into the water while crossing the river and was got carried away by a strong current.
Efforts by villagers and his friends to save him were futile. Valpoi fire brigade personnel along with police and villagers fished out the body at about 4.30 pm.
One person died while another was seriously injured in separate road accidents at Old Goa.
According to reports, a trailer which was proceeding from Panjim to Ponda dashed against a motorcycle, killing Bonifacio Almeida (23) of Santa Cruz, near West Coast gas station, Old Goa. The other person one Carlos suffered injuries in the mishap and was shifted to the GMC. The trailer driver fled from the scene.
In another accident, a pedestrian, Ganpat Madri (58) of Old Goa, was seriously injured after he was knocked down by a car driven by a woman near the Neura junction. Old Goa Police informed that the victim was rushed to GMC Hospital by the lady driver in her vehicle. Both the cases are investigated by PSI Sagun Sawant.
(With inputs from our correspondents in Vasco, Valpoi and Old Goa)
