A file image of Calangute beach in Goa Photo Credit: The Hindu
One person was killed and 20 others were rescued when a tourist boat capsized in the Arabian Sea off North Goa’s Calangute beach on Wednesday, police said.
‘The incident happened at 1.30 pm,’ they said.
“A 54-year-old man died and 20 others were rescued and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment after the boat they were traveling in capsized,” a senior police officer said.
“All but two passengers were wearing life jackets,” he said. “There were children under the age of 6 and women among the passengers,” he added.
A spokesperson for Drashti Marine, a government-appointed life-saving agency, said all passengers fell into the sea when the boat capsized about 60 meters from the coastline.
He said, “A family with 13 members of Khed from Maharashtra were passengers on board.” After seeing the overturned boat, one of the employees of Drashti Marin went to help and called for backup.
“In all, 18 on-duty lifeguards came to the aid of struggling passengers and brought them to safe shore,” he said.
Injured passengers were given first aid, while those in critical condition were taken to medical facilities by ambulance, the spokesman said.
“Among the 20 passengers, two children aged six and seven and two women aged 25 and 55 have been resuscitated and admitted to hospital,” he said, adding that the two passengers on the boat were not wearing life jackets.
Goa is a popular tourist destination, especially during Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The incident comes a week after 15 people were killed when a high-speed naval vessel lost control and rammed into the passenger ferry ‘Neel Kamal’ off the Mumbai coast during an engine test. The ferry, carrying more than 100 passengers, was heading to Elephanta Island, a tourist destination famous for its cave temples, from the Gateway of India.
published – December 25, 2024 at 08:36 pm IST