TEAM TNV

Panaji (Goa)

As post-monsoon showers are receding, Drishti Lifesaving, the state-appointed professional lifeguard agency, has announced to resume setting up safe swim zones on Goa’s beaches from Monday onwards. 

“Starting October 9, 2017, all the beaches will be open for swimming. We map the weather and sea conditions each morning and accordingly sets up safe swim zones along the beaches which are manned by the agency,” Drishti said in a press release issued here this evening.

At the start of the monsoon season, the lifeguard body had issued advisory instructing visitors to the beach not to venture into waters during the monsoon months extending from June till the end of September. Red flags were erected on all the beaches indicating that they are no-swim zones, which essentially meant that the beaches are not meant for swimming. Even wading into the waters was not advisable during the monsoon months.

 Drishti’s 600 -strong lifeguard force man Goa’s beaches through the year. Most of the beaches across Goa are safe to swim in. However, Drishti advises beach goers and swimmers to adhere to some basic safety measures. Swimmers should ideally swim only in the swim zones which are marked with red and yellow flags by the Drishti lifeguards. Non-swim zones are marked with red flags and are not meant for swimming.

The 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.