In September 2024, at least 46 people, including 37 children, died at a religious function in Bihar due to drowning. The tragedy was one of many that contribute to an estimated 38,000 people dying of drowning-related causes every year in India—a figure that experts say is an underestimate. But, one state has tried to buck the trend and make beaches a safe place for everyone: Goa.
When nearly 200 people died off Goa's coast due to drowning in 2007, the state government swung into action by appointing a professional agency for enhancing beach safety. Drishti Marine, a for-profit organisation, was chosen to provide lifesaving services on 45 beaches along Goa’s coastline, as well as at popular inland water bodies like the Dudhsagar Waterfall and Mayem Lake—locations that are popular with tourists and residents. Since its appointment in 2008, the organisation claims a 99 per cent reduction in deaths due to drowning, which has significantly improved the tourist experience in Goa and made it safer.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), there were 696 accidental deaths in Goa in 2022, the last year for which such figures are available on their website. Traffic accidents, sudden deaths, drowning, falls, poisonings and accidental fire all come under the umbrella of accidental deaths. Outlook Traveller reached out to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority and the Department of Tourism to corroborate the NCRB and Drishti Marine’s figures in this article but was unable to receive a response at the time of publication.
So, how did Drishti Marine go about reducing the death toll from drowning in 2007 to single digits for the last 16 years? (The exception was 2019 when 12 deaths were recorded.) According to Navin Awasthi, the CEO of the organisation, his team of over 450 lifeguards made several changes. First, they clearly demarcated zones on Goa’s beaches for specific purposes. The swim areas were marked by red and yellow flags, the no-swim zones with red flags, and areas designated for water sports were marked with black-and-white flags. Second, beaches with high footfall had dedicated lifeguard towers installed that offered a clear vantage point. Lifeguards equipped with binoculars, jet skis, spine boards, surfboards and rescue tubes monitored the swim zones, and when they spotted a person in distress, the lifeguard on duty would notify their team via radio. The rescue team would rush to assist the person in distress, alert their backup team to call an ambulance and accompany the rescued individual to the hospital for evaluation. Third, the organisation integrated advanced technology to enhance the efforts of the lifeguards. They developed AURUS, a self-driving, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered robot that patrolled non-swim zones, provided logistical support and assisted lifeguards in making public-safety announcements in multiple languages. It worked alongside TRITON, another AI-driven monitoring system that offers comprehensive beach surveillance, spots tourists in distress in the water over long distances and aids lifeguards in emergencies. Both AURUS and TRITON are currently deployed at Miramar Beach in Panjim.
All of these measures have saved more than 7,700 lives in Goa since 2008, says Awasthi. His team’s rescue rate advertised the company’s credentials further afield and led to the deployment of a 100-strong lifeguard squad at six of Mumbai’s beaches—Girgaon, Dadar, Juhu, Versova, Aksa and Gorai—from 2018. Ferdin Sylvester, the director and co-founder of the OneEarth Foundation in Goa, said that Drishti Marine has always been at the forefront of marine safety in his state. “I have personally seen them in action, their cool, calm efficiency is an essential requirement for the coasts of India. Their communication, coordination and commitment to safety is evident from the way they are able to manage crowds, keep a constant track of shifting currents and tides, coupled with a quick warning system,” he says. “As an organisation, [they are] extremely supportive of individuals undertaking adventure sport activities such as kayaking, deep-sea swimming, sailing etc. For my own kayak expedition across the coastline of Goa, they were with me at every step, tracking my journey down the coast over multiple days. [They] had even provided me with a walkie-talkie for emergencies and would check in every hour to see if I’m okay.”
Alongside saving humans, Drishti Marine’s lifeguards are also trained to serve as first responders for marine wildlife strandings. Working closely with the state forest department and non-governmental organisations focused on marine welfare, whenever lifeguards encounter a stranded marine animal, they assign codes indicating whether the creature is alive and needs treatment or has washed ashore as a corpse. In the latter case, the stage of decomposition is assessed, and photographs and measurements of the carcass are taken to help identify the species, age and gender of the animal. Since Goa's coast is home to various marine species, including the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin and the finless porpoise, apart from several sea turtle species, the Drishti Marine team has also had to learn the right methods for lifting, transporting, and handling injured sea turtles, marine mammals and seabirds. Furthermore, the organisation has successfully reunited 590 children with their families since 2008.
Despite Drishti Marine's marked success at improving rescue rates and bringing down the death toll caused by drowning along Goa’s coastline, the state government has initiated the process of appointing a new lifeguard agency by issuing a global tender in September 2024. The project is expected to cost INR 67.5 crore, and the contract will be effective for five years. Until a new agency can be found that meets the necessary criteria, Drishti Marine's contract will be continued indefinitely.
As the organisation continues to safeguard Goa’s beaches, Awasthi hopes to replicate the learnings from his time in the state in other locations in India and abroad. Outside of lifeguard duties, his team is promoting water safety awareness initiatives like “Learn to Float,” which teaches youngsters essential skills to survive in the water. The organisation also hopes to deploy its “Paw Squad” on high-density beaches and in other less crowded beaches before it concludes its contract. This is a first-of-its-kind initiative in Asia in which highly trained dogs and their handlers are used on the beach to assist with effective patrolling and lifesaving efforts. The dogs are in the process of completing a rigorous 26-month training program at Drishti Marine’s Lifesaver Training Centre in Sinquerim in North Goa.
Goa is a popular holiday destination because of its long coastline and unique culture. Hence, beachgoers often wade into the water and underestimate the power of the sea, which can be rough due to the presence of rip currents. “At the start of each day, Drishti Marine lifesavers mark no-swim zones clearly with red flags. However, many beachgoers, particularly tourists, often ignore these basic safety measures and venture into dangerous areas of the sea, leading to fatalities. We have created an exhaustive manifest of dos and don'ts, which are regularly publicised through public messages and on signages posted on beaches at high visibility locations,” says Awasthi.
Here are a few ways to keep yourself and others safe on the beach:
Those visiting the beach should keep a minimum of 10 metres away from the waterline and listen to the instructions given by the lifeguards.
Guardians should keep a close eye on children while on the beach and not allow them to venture into the waters unattended, no matter how shallow it may be.
Stay alert and listen to the announcements made by patrolling lifeguards via the public address system.
It is not suitable to head out to the beach or venture into the water during lightning and thunder because lightning can pose a danger.
Do not get onto the rocks during low tide because the rocks get a lot more slippery and mossy during the monsoon season.
It is not advisable to swim or to engage in any water sports activity at the beach during the monsoon months from June to September because even though the sea may seem calm, a sudden large wave can sneak up on you and pull you into deep waters without warning.
If under the influence of alcohol, make sure you do not venture into the water.
Always read and obey the safety signs found at the beach's main entrance.
If you’re drowning, it is essential to stay calm, call out for assistance and try to stay afloat. Enroll children in Drishti Marine’s “Learn to Float” program which teaches children how to survive in the water simply by floating.
If you see someone drowning or in distress in the water, immediately inform the on-duty trained lifeguards who patrol the beach. If you’re in Goa, inform the lifeguard towers, which are erected on beaches with high footfalls. Once you pass on the information to the lifeguards, let the professionals accomplish the critical task of lifesaving. Do not impede the lifesaving process by crowding the lifeguards’ paths or gathering near the spot where the rescued victim is being provided first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).