Visitors risk lives for Insta-worthy photos

With the boom in social media, several youngsters on various platforms are going to the extent of risking their lives to get the perfect shot for the gram. Despite warnings by the authorities to avoid cliffs and

slippery rocks

,

several visitors

have been spotted at

rocky beaches

like Vagator, Arambol, Sinquerim and so on. A trekking trail along the sea in Sinquerim has been seeing hoards of enthusiastic explorers each day. Photos from dangerous spots at Cabo de Rama fort and Dudhsagar waterfall trek are also emerging on Instagram.
“We have advised beach goers to stay away from rocky areas and cliffs along the coastline. The rocks are very slippery during this season and also wave height, intensity and frequencies are very high and one can easily get washed out. To reduce the number of accidents and falls from slippery and rocky areas along the coastline we had previously identified unsafe zones which are strictly no-selfie zones. We have observed that a number of visitors to the beach are scaling rocky areas and cliff tops in an attempt to get photographs to share on their social media profiles,” says Ravi Shankar, head of operations at

Drishti Marine

, the state appointed lifeguard agency. He adds, “Many images and videos posted online are located at extremely

dangerous locations

amidst steep rocks with jagged edges, areas with loose rocks and locations prone to rip currents and fierce waves. Many of these locations are at beaches which are unmanned by lifesavers.”
The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Tourist Police, North District, says, “We have tourist cops on bikes and jeeps that patrol the beaches, when the cops inform them about the risky terrain they will obey that moment and after the cops turn around, tourists and locals go back to doing what they want to do.”
Mathew Fernandes, a local from Agonda, says, “Every time I see people going towards the rocky areas, I inform them, but then some have the audacity to turn back and respond, ‘Are you a cop, or a life saver?’ What am I to respond to that?”