IS GOA NOW A DEATH DESTINATION FOR TOURISTS

Over the last ten years a record number of 157 tourists were reported dead at Anjuna, 69 in Pernem while 19 at Mapusa. This has been revealed in the information obtained under the Right to Information Act.

In an attempt to find out how safe a tourist destination Goa has been,  information was sought the Director General of Police on details of all Indian and foreign tourists reported dead in Goa over the last decade.

As per the information furnished,  of the 123 foreigners reported dead at Anjuna 12 died due to drowning, 7 suicides, 20 accidents, 6 were murdered, 59 were natural deaths while 29 year old British National Mathew Maclean died due to electrocution after having touched a live wire fallen on the road. Deaths of 18 foreigners are still under investigation with the cause of death yet not known.

Of the 34 Indian tourists dead at Anjuna 17 were due to drowning, 3 suicides, 2 accidents, 4 murders, 2 natural while the cause of other six deaths is yet not known.

At Pernem a total of 69 foreigners were reported dead of which 13 were due to drowning, 7 suicides, 8 accidents, 1 murder, 20 natural deaths while the cause of the other 20 deaths is still under investigation.

Of the 19 foreigners reported dead at Mapusa 6 were killed in accidents, 3 murdered, 9 natural deaths and cause of one death still not known.

Interestingly of the 80 natural deaths reported at Anjuna, Pernem and Mapusa 50 of those dead were under the age of 45 and died due to alleged overdose of narcotics and alcohol.  It is informed that no specific records of death of Indian tourists at Mapusa and Pernem is maintained

Last week it was informed that within the jurisdiction of Canacona Police station 71 tourists died over the last ten years of which 38 were foreigners while 31 were Indian tourists.

Of the 38 foreigners dead 7 were killed in road accidents, 5 due to drowning, 2  suicides and  24 natural deaths of whom 8  were under the age of 50 which includes 22 year old Finnish National Felix Dahl whose mother  has been alleging  that her son was murdered at Canacona.

Of the 33 Indian Tourists reported dead at Canacona, 9 were killed in road accidents, 19 due to drowning, 1 suicide and 4 natural deaths.

The large number death of tourists in Goa is very disturbing and there is need for the government to take some immediate corrective measures.

While the figures of death of Tourists at Colva, Calangute amongst other places is still awaited, it is now very evident that Goa is not a safe destination for tourists.

Though crores are being squandered on foreign jaunts by Ministers to promote Tourism, it is very anguishing that the basic infrastructure including the roads in Goa are in a very pathetic state and a virtual death trap at many places.

Due to lack of foresight by successive governments Goa has today become a drug, gambling, prostitution and crime haven.  The above figures say it all.