This is especially in view of the tragic incident reported on Saturday, wherein a Telangana tourist jumped off the boat off Baina coast, saying he knew to swim and drowned within minutes. The boat had left from Panjim.
Officials say the decision, to impart compulsory, free of cost training, would fulfill short terms and long term objectives. While the short term plan is to impart training in rescue and rehabilitation operations to deal with emergencies and untoward incidents, the long term objective is to have more trained life guards in the form of water sport operators along the coastline and serve as a force multiplier during natural disasters as well.
The department has decided that its four hi-speed boats, which have been non-operational, will be put to use for off-shore rescue and rehab operations.
