MARGAO
The world famous Colva beach played host to a large number of domestic tourists on Sunday, with a couple of visitors seen in the choppy waters, giving hard time for the life guards.
Incidents of visitors entering the sea comes against the backdrop of the advisory issued by South Goa district Collector, Asvin Chandru, IAS advising visitors not to venture out in the sea in order to prevent drowning incidents.
Incidents of domestic tourists resorting to open public drinking were spotted on the beach. A couple of tourists were seen taking a nap on the beach.
Migrant hawkers were seen making merry on the beach belt, with neither the Colva police nor the tourist police seen around to drive the illegal vendors away.
As the Colva beach witnessed a steady stream of visitors during the monsoons, the life guards have been kept on their toes with tourists forcibly entering the choppy waters despite warnings.
In fact, a life guard pointed out that the domestic visitors force their way into the sea under the influence of liquor. What has made the job of the lifeguards difficult is the absence of the Colva police or the tourist police to provide security to the lifeguards.
“Our job is primarily to rescue visitors from drowning in the sea. But, despite the advisory issued by the district Collector, South, we have come across visitors in an inebriated state forcefully entering the choppy waters by ignoring our warning,” informed a life guard, adding that the police should make their presence on the beach at least on Sunday as a precautionary measure.
