BICHOLIM: A 17-year-old youth from St Inez, Panjim, died due to drowning in a water-filled laterite stone quarry at Bhatwadi-Nanora, Bicholim, on Sunday afternoon.
The deceased, identified as Mohit Kashyap, had gone for a swim at the quarry along with a group of six friends, all from Panjim. Two of his friends, who almost got drowned with him, were rescued.
The tragedy occurred at around 1 pm, when they entered waters and started taking selfies. Suddenly three reached deeper area inadvertently and started drowning in the water. However, two of them managed to come out of the water while Kashyap drowned.
On receiving information about the incident, the Bicholim Police rushed to the spot and conducted the panchanama. The body has been preserved at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Bambolim for post-mortem examination, which will be conducted on Monday.
PSI Sunil Patil is conducting investigations under the guidance of Bicholim PI Rahul Naik.
In August last year, a 19-year-old youth from Nanora, had drowned in the same quarry when he had gone for swimming along with his friends from the same village.
Meanwhile, in another incident, a person was feared drowned in the Tillari irrigation canal at Usap-Nanora in Bicholim.
The locals and fire brigade personnel were trying to trace the person. The search operation will continue on Monday morning, said the Bicholim Police.
Govt bans swimming in waterfalls, rivers and other water bodies
PANJIM: Taking serious note of the incidents of drowning, the Goa government has prohibited swimming in waterfalls, abandoned quarries, rivers, lakes and other water bodies reported across the State.
An order to this effect was issued by both the District Magistrates, under Section 144 of CrPC and will come into effect from May 26. The order will remain in force for 60 days, unless withdrawn earlier. The order has been issued in view of incidents of drowning reported in the past in waterfalls and other water bodies. Further, the local PI and Taluka Mamlatdar are directed to maintain vigil in their jurisdiction and enforce the order. Failure to comply with the order shall be liable for penal action under Section 188 of IPC and other relevant provisions of law in force, states the order. By prohibiting swimming in such hazardous areas, the district administration aims to prevent further accidents and loss of life.
CM had assured the House to fence illegal stone quarries
PANJIM: In the State Legislative Assembly in August last year, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had assured the MLAs that the government will take steps to fence water-filled mining pits and abandoned stone quarries to ensure safety of animals and humans in order to prevent mishaps.
He had stated that he will instruct the taluka mamlatdars to prepare an inventory of all illegal, abandoned or inoperative quarries so that they can be barricaded.
The issue was raised by Sanvordem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar though a calling attention notice.
In his reply, Sawant had said that land owners concerned will be responsible for barricading the abandoned quarries and for erecting signboards in order to prevent people from visiting and swimming there or animals falling in it.
Since the government had no information about the illegal quarries operating or abandoned in the State, a committee comprising officials of all departments concerned was to be constituted so as to identify all illegal quarries across the State.
