Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: With a surge in tourist arrivals expected during the New Year festive week, Goa’s state-appointed lifesaver agency Drishti Marine has intensified beach safety operations across the coastline, including extended duty hours till 1 am on New Year’s Eve.
Drishti Marine has deployed an additional 135 personnel for the festive season, comprising 70 lifesavers and 14 beach marshals in South Goa, and 65 lifesavers along with 19 beach marshals in North Goa. The move is aimed at managing increased footfall at popular beaches such as Baga, Calangute, Candolim and Miramar in North Goa, and Colva, Benaulim and Palolem in South Goa.
“Drishti Marine has taken significant pre-emptive safety measures this holiday season to safeguard beach-goers, keeping in mind the large crowds expected along Goa’s coastline,” said Navin Awasthi, CEO of Drishti Marine. He added that lifesavers will remain on duty till 1 am on New Year’s Eve to manage midnight crowds and respond swiftly to emergencies.
In total, over 450 lifesavers and 70 beach marshals will be deployed across designated locations to ensure uninterrupted safety services. Colonel Austin Collaco, General Manager (Operations and Training), said additional manpower is crucial during New Year celebrations. “Crowd management and handling intoxicated individuals are the two biggest challenges during this period. Enhanced deployment helps mitigate unforeseen situations,” he noted.
To further strengthen operations, Drishti Marine has augmented its jeep-patrolling fleet and deployed additional jet skis at high-footfall beaches to enable faster response and coordinated search and rescue operations. All lifesaver towers and patrol vehicles are equipped with high-powered two-way radios to ensure seamless communication.
Lifesaver towers—24 in North Goa and 20 in South Goa—are fully equipped with first-aid kits, spine boards, surfboards, rescue boards, rescue tubes, bag valve masks, and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machines to handle medical emergencies, including cardiac arrests.
Drishti Marine continues to monitor 54 beaches across Goa throughout the year, along with inland tourist sites such as Dudhsagar, Mhovacho Guno, Savri waterfall and Mayem Lake, from 7 am to sunset.
As part of its #ListenToYourLifesaver campaign, the agency has urged beachgoers to follow safety instructions, avoid entering the water under the influence of alcohol, keep children under constant supervision, and heed warning signs and public announcements, especially during rough sea conditions.
