The abandoned Chimbel quarry which resembles a swimming pool, thereby attracting the visitors.
Photo Credits: Manuel Vaz
OLD GOA
To any swimming enthusiast, the abandoned Chimbel quarry filled with rainwater is an enticing place to go for a swim, particularly during the rains when rainwater flows into the quarry, resembling a waterfall.
And with the surrounding nature, the place is as inviting as it gets and if one goes on the net and searches for Chimbel waterfall, then it would lead to the quaint place located in a quiet corner of Xirent.
However, there have been many drowning incidents reported at the quarry in the past with many lives lost.
The latest incident was in the month of November last year when a teenager from Mumbai Derrick Raj lost his life.
It’s been six months since then but nothing seems to have changed and lessons have not been learnt as the area continues to be freely accessible to anybody wanting to go for a swim, and there is no signboard warning of the danger that lurks at the place.
When The Goan visited the place on Friday, two schoolboys were present all alone at the place.
When questioned, they informed that they frequent the place on a regular basis for a swim.
“Both of us come here for a swim and then we go home,” said one of the boys, a resident of Indira Nagar locality.
Apparently, both knew about the danger of getting drowned. But they informed this correspondent, “If you know to swim, you can swim here otherwise you go ‘sidha upar’”.
The easy access to the boys to the quarry shows about the lax attitude of authorities in taking steps to prevent any untoward incident from happening at this place.
When The Goan made inquiries, it was informed that the PWD has been apparently told by the Collector’s office on the need to fence the area.
“A proposal has already been sent and the measurement has already been provided about the fencing that needs to be undertaken,” a source informed.
The Goan then tried to locate whether a signboard has been installed at the place warning the visitors about the danger that lurks.
It was only after a while that a signboard was located with the paint worn out and the words just about unreadable.
It read, “Swimming and/or bathing is strictly prohibited”. However, the notice board is hardly visible to the visitors as it is not located on the path that leads to the quarry.
Further, in the absence of a fence, it is just about easy to access the quarry which is currently full of rainwater and resembles a swimming pool attracting the visitors.
It now remains to be seen whether the authorities will act fast and make the area out of bounds for the visitors so that the incidents of drowning are not repeated in this rains as well.
