Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Jan 13: A dramatic early-morning rescue unfolded on Saturday when a man drove his car into the Mandovi River at the Divar ferry point after dozing off at the wheel.
The driver, identified as Sharmad Shirodkar, was traveling alone in a hatchback towards Old Goa when the incident occurred around 3am. Fortunately, Shirodkar managed to escape from the sinking vehicle, which was completely submerged in the river.

According to the Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), staff from the nearby ferry quickly threw a life buoy to help him swim to safety.

"We received a call at 3am about a car falling into the river. The driver was able to get out, and the river navigation staff on duty at the ferry acted swiftly to assist him," said a DFES official.

Inquiries into the incident are ongoing, as Shirodkar’s reasons for heading towards the ferry ramp at such an hour remain unclear.

This mishap brings back memories of a tragic incident in September at the St Estevam ferry ramp, where a 22-year-old businessman from Gujarat lost his life after his car plunged into the water.

The DFES responded promptly, deploying their swift water rescue team from Panaji. Led by firefighter Sameer Azare, the team used an underwater camera to locate the vehicle and confirm no other passengers were trapped. A crane was then used to recover the submerged car, which had drifted to one side of the ramp due to the tide.

The rescue operation, supported by Goa Police, concluded at 6.45am. The DFES estimated the loss from the accident at around Rs 50,000.

Sub-fire officer Rohidas Parab, in charge of the Old Goa fire station, oversaw the operation.

This incident highlights the importance of caution while driving near ferry ramps, particularly during odd hours, to avoid such accidents.