Team Goemkarponn
COLLEM: A fatal drowning incident near the Collem–Metawada bridge on Saturday morning has once again raised concerns over water safety in the Dudhsagar waterfall belt, after four young men from Vasco lost their lives in a river believed to have been misjudged as shallow.
According to police, the group of seven to eight men had travelled to the location by train and reached the riverside between 9.30 am and 10 am. The incident is reported to have taken place shortly thereafter, when the victims entered the water under the assumption that it was safe and shallow.
Drishti Marine lifesavers were alerted through Captain Niraj Gaonkar following a request from Goa Police. A rescue team was immediately deployed to the site, located around 2 km from Dudhsagar Waterfalls.
By the time rescuers arrived, one body had already been recovered, while three others remained submerged. Lifesavers Maruti Atwadkar, Irfan Shaikh, and Sagar Dushi entered the river without delay and conducted a search operation in water estimated to be about three metres (10 feet) deep.
Within 15 minutes, all three missing victims were located and retrieved. Medical personnel from the 108 emergency service, who were present along with police, examined the victims and confirmed that all four had no signs of life.
The bodies were later handed over to police for post-mortem and legal formalities.
Officials said all deceased were men aged between 26 and 28 years, underscoring ongoing concerns about underestimating river currents and depth in popular but hazardous natural sites, especially during peak water flow conditions.
