Panaji, October 23 – In two simultaneous but significant rescue operations, Drishti Marine lifesavers overcame rough sea conditions and choppy waves to rescue 38 tourists onboard a cruise boat and four persons on a dinghy after the two vessels got stranded amid rocks off Aguada Bay in North Goa on Thursday evening.

Thunderstorm-induced rough seas and choppy waves made the rescue operation challenging, even as the 12 lifesavers onboard a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) and jetskis first approached the cruise boat, which had got stranded amid the rocks due to turbulent sea conditions. Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Meteorological Department had incidentally issued a warning about turbulent weather conditions. After 38 passengers were helped off the stranded vessel and safely brought ashore, the Drishti Marine lifesavers were alerted to another incident nearby, after a dinghy got stuck in the rocky area. The lifesaver rushed to the site, rescued and brought to safety the four persons onboard. Both rescue operations were completed swiftly and without injury to either the rescued or the rescuers, despite rough sea conditions prevailing in the area. The Drishti Marine team of lifesavers were assisted by the staff at the nearby Aguad Jail and Port complex staff who provided additional gear including lights, ropes and aided the lifesavers in helping the rescued persons get off the rocks to safety.

12 Drishti Marine lifesavers, Aakash Fulkar, Pratap Naik, Mahesh Chalwadi, Laxmikant Komtekar, Ramakant Kankonkar, Manguesh Gawas, Amit Mahale, Umesh Madekar, Gaurav Gawde, Ajay Singh, Kartik Naik and Hemant Basera were involved in the twin rescue operations off Aguada Bay.