Agency manning Goa beaches warns against entering sea in rains

Panaji, June 13 : With the onset of monsoon, a private lifeguard agency employed by the Goa government to man the state beaches has warned against swimming in the sea and entering choppy waters for the next four months.
“We advise visitors to the beach not to venture into the sea during the monsoon months. We have put up red flags at all the beaches, which means that the area is not meant for swimming. Even wading into the waters is not advisable,” PN Pandey, General Manager (Operations), Drishti Lifesaving Private Limited, said in a release here. The state has 105-kilometre-long coastline and the lifesaving agency has deployed 700-odd personnel to man the beaches and tourist spots.
Pandey said it is not advisable for the visitors to venture in the sea from June to September. “Owing to the present weather conditions, red flags have been posted across all beaches under Drishti’s surveillance indicating that these are strictly non-swim zones,” he said.
Pandey said those visiting the beach should keep minimum 10 metre away from the waterline and listen to the instructions given by the lifeguards.
He said the team of lifeguards present along the coast is monitoring the weather conditions. In case of a dry spell over the next few months and depending on the weather conditions, Drishti may open up a few beach stretches.