One person died and 20 others were rescued after a tourist boat capsized in the Arabian Sea off Calangute beach in North Goa on Wednesday afternoon, police said.
The incident took place around 1:30 pm when the boat, carrying passengers including children and women, capsized about 60 meters from the shore.
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“A 54-year-old man died and 20 others were rescued and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment after the boat they were travelling in capsized,” a senior police official said, PTI reported.
Two passengers, who were not wearing life jackets, were among those who fell into the water. A family of 13 from Khed, Maharashtra, was also on board the boat.
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A Drishti Marine spokesperson said a personnel from the government-appointed lifesaving agency witnessed the boat capsizing and quickly called for backup. In total, 18 lifesavers rushed to the scene and brought the passengers safely to shore. The injured were administered first aid, and those in critical condition were taken to a medical facility.
Among the rescued were two children, aged six and seven, and two women, aged 25 and 55, who were later hospitalised.
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The incident comes just a week after a Navy craft lost control and crashed into the passenger ferry Neel Kamal off the Mumbai coast, killing 15 people.
Goa, a popular tourist destination, is especially crowded during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.