Lifeguards on guard at Palolem beach
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
CANACONA, MAY 11
Tourism may have almost come to an end, but Palolem beach is now brimming with a battery of lifeguards, a tall standing lifeguard tower, rescue gadgets, besides a jeep to meet any drowning exigencies.
According to sources, 23 lifeguards employed by Dhristi, which includes a captain, besides a jeep driver, guards the 1.7 km stretch of Palolem beach since Saturday.
“Eight points have been marked and all these points are equipped with wireless sets, which are routed to the main wireless set handled by captain, who takes his position watching the entire beach with binoculars on the lifeguard tower,” informed a source.
“The lifeguards posted at Palolem are equipped with rescue boats, rescue tubes, Jetski, a jeep and first-aid kit to meet any exigencies,” informed lifeguards captain Girish Komarpant.
“Shortly, AED system will also be installed once the lifeguard tower still under construction will be fully operational,” said Komarpant, who has been reportedly instrumental in single-handedly saving six people from imminent drowning at Betalbatim beach last year.
“Besides, we had classified Palolem beach fronts as ‘safe’ and ‘dangerous’ spots, highlighting the dangers involved to the unsuspecting tourists,” he said.
Interestingly, Komarpant replied in the negative, whether any drowning calls have been attended at Palolem since Saturday, but hastily added that the life of Nuvem church priest Fr Thomas Fernandes who met watery grave at Galgibaga beach on Sunday afternoon may have been saved if there was presence of lifeguards on that beach.
Even though the lifeguard tower is still in construction stage, the full batch of 23 lifeguards is watching over the beach shore, beginning from 7.30 am till the sun sets.
Lifeguards towers of smaller sizes are also planned at Agonda, Patnem, Rajbag and Galgibag beaches by tourism department, informed sources.
It is learnt that the lifeguards posted now will not be withdrawn henceforth and continue to guard the shore even during off season.
