SURAJ NANDREKAR
In the span of just nine days, four young girls have drowned in separate incidents across Goa—a grim reminder of the growing and preventable dangers posed by water bodies in the state. These tragedies, most recently involving an eight-year-old girl in Quepem and a three-year-old in Agonda, should serve as a wake-up call for both authorities and the public.
The case of Shahad, the eight-year-old who drowned in the Selaulim Canal on May 4 while attending a family wedding, is particularly heartbreaking. A simple act—washing her legs in the canal—ended in a devastating loss. Found lifeless an hour after she was last seen, Shahad became yet another victim of a canal that has now claimed five lives in just two years. Yet, despite this alarming pattern, there appears to be little in the way of effective intervention or policy change.
What makes these deaths even more tragic is that they were entirely preventable. Lack of fencing, signage, lifeguards, or basic public awareness campaigns around these areas underscores a troubling negligence. That children can so easily access these hazardous locations points to systemic failures in safety enforcement and public planning.
Goa, a state known for its natural beauty and water-centric tourism, must not allow its water bodies—be it canals, rivers, or swimming pools—to become silent killers. This is not merely a law enforcement issue but a matter of public responsibility and governance. Municipal authorities and panchayats must prioritize fencing high-risk zones, installing clear warning signs, and working with schools and communities to educate children and families on water safety.
The government must treat these deaths not as isolated incidents, but as symptoms of a broader problem that needs immediate and sustained attention. As Goa continues to develop, it cannot afford to neglect the basic safety of its youngest and most vulnerable citizens.
One child’s life lost is already too many. Four in nine days is a tragedy—one that must compel urgent, meaningful action.
