Drishti Lifesaving, Goa government’s beach safety agency, on Monday issued an advisory cautioning people and tourists not to venture into the sea over the next 96 hours.
The advisory comes in view of the Meterological Department’s weather warnings of heavy to very heavy rain in the coastal State over next four days.
Red flags have been put up at all the beaches indicating that they are strictly no-swim zones. The team of lifeguards present along the coast are monitoring the conditions and are trained to carry out rescues even in rough weather , the advisory stated. Drishti’s lifeguard force man Goa's beaches through the year.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next couple of days putting Goa and the Konkan region on ‘red alert’.
The MET Department has warned the state to be ready for any eventuality. The department has predicted that between Monday to Thursday heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at isolated places across the State.
The State-appointed lifeguard agency has issued an advisory cautioning locals as well as the tourists strictly not to venture into the sea or indulge in water sports of any kind over the next 96 hours as the weather and sea conditions are expected to be rough and heavy showers are expected to continue for the next few days.
It’s advisable to steer clear of the high tide line in such circumstances. Even wading into the sea can be risky, the advisory noted.
The Goa government shuts down the beaches for swimming and all water sports activities during the monsoon months from June to September each year as the sea during this season tends to be extremely rough and choppy.
The State government is contemplating a stringent legislation to ban tourists venturing in the sea after sunset and in inebriated conditions.