Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (MB)
from special correspondent
Panaji, Oct 8: Goa's popular beaches, dogged by drowning incidents, will be manned by lifeguards who will be have sufficient equipments to rescue the victims and also provide them first aid, a senior tourism department official said.
The state-owned Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has recruited 54 lifeguards who will man the beaches.
File pic of a life-guard in Goa by Rajtilak Naik
"The postings are executed after scientifically analysing the data of drowning cases. The danger zones are also marked where swimming will be prohibited," GTDC managing director Sanjith Rodrigues told reporters on Friday. Goa expects around 2.5 million tourists this year, a majority of whom frequent the beaches.
He said the lifeguards are trained at the National Institute of Water Sports in Panaji and are well versed with the first aid techniques. They carry all required equipments and are also able to swim upto 400 metres inside the sea. "There was lot of criticism because of ill-equipped lifeguards. We are trying to do away with it now," the GTDC MD said.
"The swimming zones will have yellow flags while red flags will indicate that the tourists should not attempt to venture in waters," Rodrigues said. The GTDC has also tied up with hotels, beach shacks, beach houses and respective village panchayats, which will give backup to the lifeguards.
"If required, the lifeguards will be provided adequate police protection as at times the visitors, when disallowed to swim, assault the guard," Rodrigues said.
The state government has also decided to educate visitors on sea fury by distributing pamphlets which will list do s and dont s on the beaches.
Daijiworld headlines on beach hazards and life-guards