Team Goemkarponn
KULLEM: A day trip to the scenic Dudhsagar area ended in tragedy on Saturday when four young men, including three brothers from Mormugao, drowned in the Dudhsagar river near a bridge at Kullem while swimming.
The deceased have been identified as Hiranna Mader, Ram Mader, Laxman Mader and Vijai Sajili. The three brothers were residents of Chicalim, while Vijai lived in Vasco. All were between 19 and 25 years of age.
According to preliminary information, the group of five friends travelled from Vasco to Kullem by an early morning train and reached their destination around 9 a.m. They later entered the river for a swim. However, four of them reportedly got into difficulty after underestimating the depth of the water and the strength of the current.
The fifth member of the group, who was swimming near the edge of the river, realised that his friends were in distress and immediately rushed to the police station to seek assistance. Despite rescue efforts, the four youths could not be saved.
A search operation was launched, and the bodies of the victims were later recovered from the river.
The incident has cast a pall of gloom over Mormugao, with the loss of four young lives—including three siblings—sending shockwaves through the community and once again highlighting the dangers of venturing into fast-flowing rivers during the monsoon season.
