Second Sportsman’s Body Recovered After Tragic Drowning in Goa’s Mhadei River

Ponda: Naval divers retrieved the body of an 18-year-old sportsman from the Mhadei River in Ganjem, Ponda, on Monday evening, following an extensive search operation, as reported. The victim, Dhananjay Bhanudas Khairnar from Dhule, Maharashtra, drowned in an incident that occurred on Sunday afternoon.

The tragedy unfolded when a group of seven sportsmen from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) complex in Curti ventured to swim near a bandhara in Ganjem, approximately 7km from their camp. Local villagers managed to rescue two of the youths, but two others, including Khairnar, went missing in the river’s currents.

Ponda police promptly launched a search effort, assisted by local residents and fire and emergency services personnel. The operation faced challenges, prompting authorities to call in naval divers on Monday afternoon to aid in the recovery. Sushil Moraskar, station officer at Ponda central fire station, noted that the limitations of their team necessitated the Navy’s involvement.

The recovery of Khairnar’s body marks the conclusion of the search for the second missing sportsman, bringing closure to a tragic incident that has underscored the dangers of swimming in unfamiliar waters.