Panaji, December 2023: In anticipation of increased tourist arrivals in Goa during the upcoming festive week of Christmas and New Year, the state-appointed lifesaver agency, Drishti Marine, has bolstered its life-saving efforts along the coast. This includes the implementation of midnight shifts, deploying volunteers and using artificial intelligence for comprehensive beach safety support.

“Drishti Marine has taken significant pre-emptive safety measures this holiday season to safeguard beach-goers, which include increasing the number of lifesavers by 24 personnel and deploying state-of-the-art AI bots, Aurus and Triton. These steps have been taken in anticipation of increased footfall along popular stretches of Goa’s coastline, namely Baga, Miramar, Calangute and Candolim beaches in North Goa and Colva, Benaulim and Palolem beaches in South Goa,” states Navin Awasthi, CEO, Drishti Marine.

There were 171 rescue operations during the last festive season between December 2022 and January 2023.

Along with additional personnel, eight volunteers from Drishti Marine’s volunteer programme will be deployed on Goa’s densely populated beaches. Drishti Marine lifesavers are also working in shifts to keep vigil over large midnight crowds on Christmas and New Year's Eve.

More than 450 lifesavers will be manning their designated sites and 80 beach safety patrol personnel will be engaged in the operations to ensure unhindered service.

According to Ashwin Ghag, a Drishti Marine lifesaver stationed at Calangute beach, extra manpower is necessary for efficient crowd management. “The two significant issues we prepare ourselves for on Christmas and New Year are crowd management and attending to individuals who are intoxicated. For this reason, deploying more lifesavers helps to mitigate any unforeseen circumstances that may arise,” says Ghag.

Drishti Marine will also deploy its AI bots, Triton and Aurus, for comprehensive beach safety support. Additionally, Drishti Marine’s jeep-patrolling fleet has been enhanced with additional vehicles to speedily assist with rescues and intensify patrolling along the beach stretches.

Additional jet skis have also been deployed at popular beaches that witness higher tourist footfalls. Lifesavers manning these jet skis also coordinate with each other from various locations during search and rescue operations.

Every tower and jeep on the beach has a high-powered two-way radio set installed to enable strong communications capability.

Lifesavers at all 35 towers are equipped with first-aid kits, spine boards, surfboards, rescue boards, rescue tubes, handheld radio sets and bag valve masks to assist in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (A.E.D.) machines.

Throughout the year, Drishti Marine lifesavers closely monitor 27 beaches across South Goa and 18 beaches across North Goa as well as Dudhsagar and Mayem Lake from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm (until sunset).

The beaches are as follows:

South Goa: Baina, Bogmollo, Velsao, Hollant, Arrosim, Majorda, Utorda, Betalbatim, Colva, Benaulim, Taj – Benaulim, Varca, Zalor, Seranbatim Cavellosim, Mobor, Agonda, Betul, Cananguinim, Cabo De Rama, Pallolem, Cola Beach, Patnem, Rajbagh, Talpona, Galgibag and Pollem.

North Goa: Querim, Coco Beach, Arambol, Ashwem and Mandrem, Morjim, Vagator, Anjuna, Baga-1, Baga-2, Calangute, Candolim-1, Candolim-2, Sinquerim, Miramar, Vaiguinim–Donapaula, Siridao and Bambolim as well as Dudhsagar waterfalls and Mayem lake.

#ListenToYourLifesaver: Safety tips from Drishti, Goa’s lifesaver agency:

· Those visiting the beach should keep a minimum of 10 metres away from the waterline and listen to the instructions given by the lifesavers.

· Keep a very close eye on children while on the beach and do not allow them to venture into the waters unattended, no matter how shallow they may be.

· Stay alert as lifesavers while patrolling make announcements to alarm and educate people via the public address system put up on the jeeps.

· It is not suitable to head out to the beach or venture into the water during rough weather.

· Do not get onto the rocks during low tide because the rocks can be slippery.

· Be wary of broken pieces of glass on the beaches which can cause injuries.

· If under the influence of alcohol, make sure you do not venture into the water.

· Always read and obey the safety signs found at the main entrance of the beach.

· Wear a mask and maintain social distancing at all times

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