One dead, 20 rescued after boat sinks off beach in Goa

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, the police said. The incident occurred around 1.30 pm, they said.

“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. Except for two passengers, all others were wearing life jackets, he said.

The passengers included children as young as six year old and women. Besides, a family comprising 13 members from Khed in Maharashtra were among those on board, he said.

A spokesman of Drishti Marine, a government-appointed lifesaving agency, said the boat capsized around 60 m away from the coastline, resulting in all passengers falling off into the sea water.

The injured passengers were administered first aid, while those who were found to be critical were rushed to a medical facility in an ambulance, the spokesman said.