This weekend, a trekking expedition involving 40 students from Don Bosco High School in Tuem, Pernem turned tragic, when five students decided to go for a swim in the Tuem quarry. According to a report by Times of India, three bodies have so far been recovered, while the hunt is on for one more. There was no confirmation whether or not this trip was organised by the school, or if it was a private excursion. Details on the same will be updated when received, however, it should be noted that this is not the first time that students drowned in the quarry. In 2015 and 2017, one student in each year had drowned in the stone quarry at Parse.
The Times of India report states that a call was made to the police station at around 5:30 pm informing them that five students had jumped into the water-filled quarry. The deputy superintendent of police, Mapusa, Gajanan Prabhudessai told the TOI reporter that “Forty students had gone for a trek in Tuem. On seeing the water-filled quarry, five went for a swim we were informed. They were feared drowned.” There were no comments from teachers about the students drowned in the quarry.
The names of the three children whose bodies have been recovered are, Danish Araujo, a resident of Caranzalem, but originally a native of Mumbai, and Jonas Dias and Prince Das, both of whom are residents of Cuncolim. The search for the fourth student, Derrick Fernandes is still in progress. The coast guard divers have been called in to assist in the search and rescue of the two missing students. They have joined the officials from the police and fire emergency services who have been camping at the site, as the search continues.
This is a developing story and will be updated as and when more information is made available. To read the Times of India report on the students drowned in the quarry, click here.
