Team Herald
PANJIM: The State-appointed professional lifeguard agency — Drishti Marine, has been assisting with immersions of idols of Lord Ganesha with a big team of lifeguards deployed across 40 identified locations from Tuesday, September 3 till 13.
The agency has also offered suggestions on ways to stay safe during immersion celebrations along the coast.
Drishti has planned to have a team of lifeguards stationed late into the night at 43 beaches along the coast during the ongoing Ganesh festivities to assist and aid people in the immersion ritual of the idol of Lord Ganesha, which generally takes place late in the night.
Lifeguards are deployed beyond their regular hours of duty at these 40 identified locations during this period.
A press statement issued by the Drishti Marine states that at the designated beaches, teams of lifeguards will assist people to ensure they are safe and also assist them to return back to shore safely after the immersion process.
In some cases, if the sea conditions are rough, the lifeguards will offer to carry the idol into the deeper areas for immersion after the ceremonial puja takes place.
In its advisory to the devotees, Drishti has urged people to carry out their immersion at the main entry point of the beaches where lifeguarding teams will be present or approach the lifeguard tower for assistance.
“Drishti especially cautioned adults to keep a very close eye on children while on the beach and to not allow children to venture into the waters under night fall, no matter how shallow it may be. The locals and tourists, many of whom turn up to watch the festive proceedings, should not enter the waters and most certainly restrain to do so if under the influence of alcohol,” the press release stated.
The team has made arrangements to have an additional back-up lifeguard team and vehicles on stand-by in case of any emergency.
Several families carried out the immersion process on Tuesday amidst strict police security and the lifeguard teams.
