SANGUEM: The body of the 24-year-old youth Shivdatt Naik, who met with a tragic death at Mainapi waterfall on Sunday morning at Netravali in Sanguem was recovered on Monday.
It may be recalled that a group of picknickers had come to the waterfall and two of them were pulled by a strong current. Locals tried to save the two but failed to do so. While the body of Mapusa based Janardhan Sadekar was retrieved, Shivdatt could not be traced.
Meanwhile, it is reportedly learnt that Naik, a civil engineer by profession was the sole bread winner of the family and supported his ailing mother. He had got his sister married about a month back and was residing with his mother in Vasco.
His father passed away 15 years ago reportedly in a motor vehicle accident and since then his mother had taken all the pains to bring up her children and give them a decent education until she fell sick.
Originally hailing from Hodar, Curchorem, the family had shifted to Vasco for better educational prospects.
A pall of gloom descended in his native place as the news of Naik passing away spread like wildfire.
Former panch Sushant Naik informed that after his father’s death, his mother had raised both the children with great hard work and dedication. “With the untimely death of her only son, the ailing mother is helpless and the government should consider extending her some financial aid on priority basis,” said Sushant.
The last rites were performed last evening at Naik’s native place at Hodar, Curhorem which was attended by largely attended.
Meanwhile, Netravali sarpanch Bundo Varak urged the Forest Department to ban the entry of visitors to the waterfalls in the village till the time proper security measures are put in place.
Varak informed that during the monsoon, tourists flock to Netravali to witness the waterfalls for which the Forest Department collects an entry fee of Rs 100 per person and hence security measures should be given priority before permitting the visitors to venture into the deep forests.
