Drishti Marine intensifies life-saving operations ahead of New Year celebrations

• Additional 135 lifesavers and beach marshals will be deployed until 1 am for support during the festive season comprising New Year

Goa Khabar : In anticipation of increased tourist arrivals in Goa during the upcoming New Year festive week, the state-appointed lifesaver agency, Drishti Marine, has bolstered its life-saving efforts along the coast. This includes the implementation of shifts till 1 am for comprehensive beach safety support. 

“Drishti Marine has taken significant pre-emptive safety measures this holiday season to safeguard beach-goers, which include increasing the number of lifesavers by 135 personnel, comprising 70 lifesavers and 14 beach marshals in South Goa, and 65 lifesavers and 19 beach marshals in North Goa. These steps have been taken in anticipation of increased footfall along popular stretches of Goa’s coastline, namely Baga, Miramar, Calangute and Candolim beaches in North Goa and Colva, Benaulim and Palolem beaches in South Goa,” states Navin Awasthi, CEO, Drishti Marine.

To manage large midnight crowds on New Year’s Eve, Drishti Marine lifesavers will remain on duty until 1 am as part of extended safety operations.

More than 450 lifesavers will be manning their designated sites and 70 beach marshal personnel will be engaged in the operations to ensure unhindered service.

According to Colonel Austin Collaco, General Manager, Operations and Training, Drishti Marine extra manpower is necessary for efficient crowd management. “The two significant issues we prepare ourselves for on New Year are crowd management and attending to individuals who are intoxicated. For this reason, deploying more lifesavers helps to mitigate any unforeseen circumstances that may arise,” says Collaco.

Additionally, Drishti Marine’s jeep-patrolling fleet has been enhanced with additional vehicles to speedily assist with rescues and intensify patrolling along the beach stretches.

Additional jet skis have also been deployed at popular beaches that witness higher tourist footfalls. Lifesavers manning these jet skis also coordinate with each other from various locations during search and rescue operations.

Every tower and jeep on the beach has a high-powered two-way radio set installed to enable strong communications capability.

Lifesavers at all towers, 24 in North Goa and 20 in South Goa  are equipped with first-aid kits, spine boards, surfboards, rescue boards, rescue tubes, handheld radio sets and bag valve masks to assist in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (A.E.D.) machines.

Throughout the year, Drishti Marine lifesavers closely monitor 30 beaches across South Goa and 24 beaches across North Goa as well as Dudhsagar,MhovachoGuno, Savri waterfall and Mayem Lake from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm (until sunset).

The beaches are as follows:

South Goa: Baina, Japanese Garden, Bogmolo, Velsao, Hollant, Arrosim, Majorda, Utorda, Betalbatim, Colva, Benaulim* , Varca, Zalor-Fatrade, Seranbatim, Cavellosim, Mobor, Agonda, Betul, Cananguinim, Cabo De Rama, Palolem, Cola Beach, Butterfly, Colomb, Patnem, Rajbagh, Talpona, Galgibag, Xandrem and Polem.

North Goa: Querim, Kalacha, Coco beach, Arambol, Ashwem, Mandrem, Morjim, Chapora, Vagator, Anjuna, Ozrant, Baga*, Calangute, Candolim*, Sinquerim, Miramar, Caranzalem, Odxel, Nauxim-Cacra, Vaiguinim, Dona Paula, Agassaim, Siridao and Bambolim.

* – Lifesaver stations are located in two places on popular and longer beach stretches.

#ListenToYourLifesaver: Safety tips from Drishti, Goa’s lifesaver agency:

·  Those visiting the beach should keep a minimum of 10 metres away from the waterline and listen to the instructions given by the lifesavers.

·  Keep a very close eye on children while on the beach and do not allow them to venture into the waters unattended, no matter how shallow they may be.

·  Stay alert as lifesavers while patrolling make announcements to alarm and educate people via the public address system put up on the jeeps.

·  It is not suitable to head out to the beach or venture into the water during rough weather.

·  Do not get onto the rocks during low tide because the rocks can be slippery.

·  Be wary of broken pieces of glass on the beaches which can cause injuries.

·  If under the influence of alcohol, make sure you do not venture into the water.

·  Always read and obey the safety signs found at the main entrance of the beach.

·  Wear a mask and maintain social distancing at all times