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 river 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 issued a warning about turbulent weather conditions.
It was unsafe to approach the rocks via jet ski or RIB, hence Drishti’s team used a land based approach. In a selfless act of bravery, Mahesh & Laxmikant from Drishti swam across to the stranded vessel with a safety rope. He first straightened the vessel anchor so the boat doesnt capsize. Once the safety rope was secured to land, the lifesavers with the help of the safety rope were able to evacuate the tourists in between the rocks and waves to the Aguada shore. Later, local watersports operators also joined the lifesavers to assist in the rescue operation.
While this rescue was underway, Drishti Marine lifesavers were alerted to another incident nearby, after a dinghy got stuck in the rocky area. The lifesavers rushed to the site on their Rescue boat, 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.
