Goa: Scottish tourist drowns at Benaulim beach

Panaji, March 4:

's 100 odd kms of coastline is notorious for tourist deaths because of sun, sand and drinks. On Monday, Sixty-nine-year-old Scottish tourist Marian Joys drowned while

in a no-swim zone off the Benaulim beach in south Goa Benaulim beach is about 40 km from Panaji.

In another incident, Israeli tourist Abdulla Mohazin (22) was rescued from drowning in a water pool at the base of Goa's highest waterfall Dudhsagar.

Goa is very attractive for both domestic and foreign tourists because of cheap hotels and budget flights. Goa receives around 2.6 million tourists each year, out of which half a million are foreign visitors. A total of 277 drowned on Goan beaches during the five and half year period from January 2007 up to June 2012.

Most of the tourists cannot swim and ignore warnings of life guards on the treacherous sea currents, and jump into the sea after consuming cheap alcohol and.

Despite the presence of the private life guards, drownings keep occurring due to the reckless tourists. Often, outnumbered lifeguards are assaulted by tourists for trying to stop them from going into the sea.

Accidents also occur because the topography of the sea and the wave dynamics. The coastline does not always slope and after a few metres, one may topple over a cliff. In fact, Calangute, one of most popular beaches, with its sloping shore is considered most treacherous.

In January, Zahir Alam Mansuri, 24, from Uttar Pradesh was swimming at Calangute beach late evening when he was swept into deeper water by rough water currents and died. Lifeguards go off duty after sunset at around 7pm and the incident happened around 7.30 pm.

OneIndia News