‘River Princess has spelt bad omen for us’

‘River Princess has spelt bad omen for us’
Locals Claim Drowning Deaths Have Gone Up Ever Since The Vessel Ran Ashore Eight Years Back
Preetu Nair | TNN

Sinquerim: Four persons died due to drowning in Sinquerim in 2007.
In adjacent Candolim 11 persons drowned, while at Calangute and Baga 12 and 10 people drowned. This year, there has already been one drowning death at Sinquerim and two at Candolim.
No drowning deaths were reported from Baga or Calangute. In 2006, Sinquerim witnessed more drowning deaths than Candolim (3). There were four drowning deaths, almost equal to that of Baga which was five.
The villagers do not have a record of drowning deaths, but say that the figures have increased since 2000.
There is no official data to support this claim, but villagers are worried and point out instances of drowning deaths.
Take the case of Ajay Naik. It was September 24, 2007.
The village of Sinquerim was filled with chants of ‘ganapati bapa moriya’. Ajay along with his friends had gone into the sea to immerse the Ganesh idol.
As it was low tide, they walked more than 200 mts to immerse the huge idol. That’s when tragedy stuck.
Ajay, an excellent swimmer, suddenly disappeared. As search operations failed, the Indian Navy’s help was sought but they failed to trace him.
His body was found after 21 days from a compartment of the River Princess, allege Ajay’s relatives.
“He died due to drowning. His semi-decomposed body was found after 21 days from a compartment of the ship by a labourer working on the ship. It was then taken out and brought to shore,” said his 30-year-old widow Samita.
This was also confirmed by the Calangute police, who added that his body must have entered the ship from a hole which has been made in the ship.
She added, “The ship has spelled bad omen for us”.
The family has a reason to be angry. Four years back a similar tragedy had struck the family.
Ajay’s eldest brother had gone to collect mussels that stick to the ship during the low tide. “He lost balance and hit the ship. He was brought dead to the shore,” said Ajay’s uncle Kishore Naik.
Ajay’s death has shocked the villagers, who are now a worried lot.
“Since ages villagers from Vaddi, Bamanwado and Marquiswado immerse the sarvajanik Ganesh idol around the area where River Princess is grounded. It is a part of our tradition and we are concerned,” said a villager Manohar Parulekar.
Some blame it on fate, few blame it on the stranded ship and say that it has changed their life and their relation with the sea.
“In the past there were no incidents of drowning deaths. But now there are frequent drowning deaths,” said 62-year-old Ramesh Kandolkar from Vaddi in Candolim.
His explanation that drowning deaths have increased as the water current has changed due to continuous digging work in and around the ship. “Now very few foreigners come here for a swim,” he added.
The villagers also informed that due to the grounded vessel, the number of foreign tourists who come to the area has also decreased and this has resulted in loss of business, for the people of the area, who mainly depend on the tourist season for their earnings.
Some of the villagers fear that if the grounded vessel is not removed immediately, then in the near future their business would be badly affected.

2008 May 19 Times Of India Goa