log on to thegoan.net TUESDAY DECEMBER 31, 2024 >> See pg 3 Undaunted by disability, trio dare to inspire with wit, enthusiasm and determination IN SHORT >> Former US president Jimmy Carter no more WASHINGTON: Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president and the third American head to make a trip to India, during which a village in Haryana was named Carterpuri in his honour, died peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia surrounded by his family. Carter, who died Sunday at 100, was the longest-lived president in US history.  >> See pg 7 Row over beach event in Vagator MAPUSA: In a dramatic turn of events, the Anjuna Panchayat has come under increasing pressure from local residents to take action against the proprietor of Echo Vamos, a popular venue at Vagator, Anjuna. >> See pg 3 31 underweight LPG cylinders seized VASCO: Thirty-one underweight cylinders were seized during a surprise inspection by the office of Inspector Legal Metrology, Vasco, at a gas agency in Cortalim. The raid revealed significant discrepancies in the weight of LPG domestic cylinders meant for delivery to retail consumers.  >> See pg 3 Delhi woman held for mangalsutra theft MARGAO: Two unknown accused ladies snatched a Mangalsurtra of a bus passenger worth around Rs 3.5 lakh in the city here on Sunday. In a swift action, the Margao police nabbed one of the accused lady, believed to be a native of Delhi.   >> See pg 2 3 foreigners dead in Bangkok hotel fire BANGKOK: A fire broke out at a hotel near Bangkok’s Khao San Road, a popular tourist destination, killing three foreigners and injuring several other people, Thai police said. The three who died in the fire were all foreign tourists. Facebook.com/thegoan @thegoanonline The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 193 Instagram.com/thegoanonline Sunburn death: Autopsy reveals excess ‘substance’ in organs n KIDNEYS, LUNGS, BRAIN AFFECTED n MEDICAL AID PROVIDED BUT EFFORTS TO REVIVE HIM WERE UNSUCCESSFUL: ORGANISERS THE GOAN I NETWORK THE UNSETTLING DEATH MYSTERY PANAJI The 26-year-old IIT topper, Karan Kashyap, reportedly suffered from acute kidney injury, cerebral edema and pulmonary edema – medical conditions indicating excess fluid in the body. Kashyap, a native of Delhi, was rushed to Vision Hospital in Mapusa from the Sunburn EDM venue in Dhargalim, where doctors declared him dead.  Reliable sources told The Goan that the private hospital’s preliminary medical findings are being examined whereas the forensic doctors at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) sent samples to the State Forensic Science Laboratory in Verna for chemical analysis and his- „„Post-mortem revealed excess fluid/substance in the body, which affected kidneys, brain and lungs „„Nature of the substance or possible toxin is not clear as of now „„Exact cause of death is reserved „„GMC has sent samples to State Forensic Science Laboratory in Verna for chemical analysis and histopathology „„Autopsy was carried out on Sunday and body was handed over to his family the same evening „„Forensic report crucial to ascertain cause of death but it is expected within one to three months topathology. The autopsy was carried out on Sunday and the youth’s body was handed over to his family the same evening. Forensic reports are crucial to ascertain the cause of death but it is expected within one to three months.   “The post-mortem revealed excess fluid/substance in the body, which affected the target organs being kidneys, brain and lungs,” the source stated. “The nature of the substance or possible toxin is not clear as of now, and hence samples have been sent to Verna FSL through the local police. The exact cause of death is reserved until reports are received.”   In a media statement issued on Monday evening, Sunburn organizers expressed condo- lences while reiterating their zero-tolerance policy on substance abuse. They claimed that medical assistance was provided to Kashyap but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.   “We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident involving a young festival attendee and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family during this difficult time. Cops target touts in Calangute ahead of New Year festivities   25 apprehended for harassing tourists by offering unauthorised services & acting as illegal guides THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA In a concerted effort to ensure the safety and comfort of tourists, the Calangute Police, in collaboration with the Tourist Police, launched a special drive on Monday to curb the growing menace of touts and illegal agents operating in the area. The crackdown resulted in the apprehension of 25 individuals involved in harassing tourists by offering unauthorised services and acting as illegal guides. The operation, conducted ahead of the highly anticipated New Year’s Eve celebrations, underscores the police’s commitment to maintaining Calangute’s reputation as a safe and enjoyable destination for visitors. “Tourists come to Calangute to relax and enjoy their holidays, but these touts create a lot of nuisance. They aggressively approach visitors, often leading to unpleasant experiences. This action by Tourists at Calangute beach on Monday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar the police is commendable,” said Rajesh Naik, a local resident. Calangute PI Inspector Paresh Naik emphasised the importance of the drive, stating, “Our primary goal is to ensure that every tourist leaves Calangute with fond memories. We will not tolerate any activity that hampers their experience. We urge the public to report any such instances immediately so we can take swift action.” However, this is not the first time police have acted against such activities. Despite repeated crackdowns in the past, touts continue to resurface on Calangute beach, exploiting tourists. “We’ve been requesting stronger measures against these touts for a long time. Their presence negatively impacts genuine businesses and tarnishes the image of our beautiful village,” said Sneha Fernandes, a shop owner near the beach. The drive is part of a broader initiative to enhance safety measures as the year draws to a close. Police have stepped up patrols and increased surveillance along the beach and >Continued on P5 Airlines to share int’l passenger information with Customs PTI NEW DELHI Airlines will have to mandatorily share details of foreign travellers with the Indian Customs authorities from April 1, 2025, and non-compliance can attract penalties. All air transport service providers operating flights to/ from India will have to register with the National Customs Targeting Centre-Passenger (NCTC-Pax) by January 10, 2025, in order to comply with the requirement, according to a communication issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). Details ranging from mobile number, and payment mode to travel itinerary need to be shared with the authorities 24 hours before the departure of an international flight. On August 8, 2022, the CBIC notified the ‘’Passenger Name Record Information Regulations, 2022’’ under which airlines were required to share PNR details of foreign travellers with Customs dept. This system is intended to enhance interdiction capabilities of authorities as well as risk analysis of passengers. Goa’s weather tale: Scorched, soaked & now chilled! THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI oa’s weather has been a tale of extremes this year, from scorching heatwave-like situations to record-breaking monsoon rains and now settling into normal winter chill. Each season brought its own unique story keeping both citizens and meteorologists on their toes.  As summer set in, the mercury climbed relentlessly. From late April to mid-May, Goa experienced sweltering conditions with temperatures ranging between 34°C and 36°C giving a heatwave-like spell. The dry weather prompted G India suffers crushing 184-run defeat against Australia  Pg 13 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Month „„June „„July „„August „„September „„Seasonal total Monthly Normal (1991-2020) rainfall (mm) monthly rainfall (mm) 938.8 914.0 2017.3 1047.0 967.8 728.3 476.8 318.5 4400.7 3007.0 authorities to issue advisories urging citizens to avoid direct sunlight, stay hydrated and limit outdoor activities during peak hours to prevent dehydration and heat-related illnesses.  Relief came in the mon- soon, which made a grand entrance with pre-monsoon showers and continued with record-breaking rainfall. Goa experienced its heaviest monsoon in decades, recording a massive 4,400.7 mm of rain this season (46.3 Departure % 2.7 92.7 32.9 49.7 46.3 percent surplus). The July month alone contributed a massive 2,017.3 mm. To put this in perspective, the last time Goa saw comparable rainfall was in 2020 with 4,165 mm; 2019 with 3,930 mm, 1983 with 3,910 mm and 1961 with 3,995 mm seasonal rainfall.  The pre-monsoon showers from March to May were 117.9mm, more than the normal of 69.8 mm and 69.0 percent excess. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted a “normal” winter for the coastal state. “We recorded the highest seasonal rainfall at 4,400.7 mm this season. The summer saw some heatwave-like situation with temperatures between 34°C and 36°C from the third week of April to mid-May, and Winter is normal for now,” IMD official Nahush Kulkarni said, summing up the year’s weather rollercoaster. Penha de Franca to get floating jetty worth `  5 crore 1 To ease congestion at Malim jetty THE GOAN I NETWORK As soon as we were alerted of his situation, our medical team and on-site doctors acted promptly to provide assistance on-site before rushing him to the hospital in Mapusa for further care. Unfortunately, despite all efforts, he could not be revived and passed away while undergoing treatment at the hospital,” the spokesperson said. “Sunburn has always had a strict zero-tolerance policy towards substance abuse and works proactively with the Goa Police and regulatory authorities, to ensure a safe and secure environment at all our events. Sunburn has always been committed to the safety and well-being of all its >Continued on P5 SMOOTH SAILING PORVORIM In a bid to ease the load on the Malim Jetty, Fisheries Minister Nilkant Halarnkar on Monday stated that a floating jetty would be constructed adjacent to the existing Malim Jetty at Penha de Franca at a cost of about Rs 10-15 crore. Speaking to media persons after visiting the Malim jetty, Halarnkar stated that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the project, which will be under the PM Matsya Sampda Yojana, has already been sent to Delhi and work will start as soon as the project is approved by the Centre. Director of Fisheries Yeshaswani B and the office bearers of Mandovi Fishermen Marketing Cooperative Society Ltd at Malim Jetty were also present during this occasion. Speaking further, Halarn- „„Detailed Project Report sent to Delhi „„Work to start after Centre approves project „„New jetty to be beneficial to trawlers in reducing waiting time to unload catch kar said the floating jetty would be beneficial to trawlers in reducing the waiting time to unload their catch. The minister informed that the GIDC contractor had abandoned the Malim Jetty work and had left it incomplete. “The GIDC had started the work to construct and upgrade the fishing jetty at Malim (North Goa) and Cortalim (South Goa) at a cost of Rs 59 crore in 2017. The work was scheduled to have been >Continued on P5 Solar power push: Process to empanel vendors kick-starts THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI With more than 3500 applications received for the State’s ambitious ‘Goem Vinamulya Vij Yevjan’ scheme -- an initiative aligned with the Prime Minister’s Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana -- the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) has initiated process to empanel vendors for the rooftop solar installations. The scheme encourages free rooftop solar installation upto 5kW for household users who consume 400 units or less per month. Apart from the Centre’s total outlay of Rs 75,000 crore, Goa government, with an initial investment of Rs 35 crore, will bear the entire cost of installation up to 2026-27. Also, under the scheme, the beneficiaries will get 300 units of free electricity and would be charged thereafter. Sources informed that the rooftops would be installed only though the registered vendors. The process to get the vendors empanelled has already commenced and once that is done, the applications would be scrutinized. Since August till date, a total close to 3500 applications have been received under the >Continued on P5 NEW YEAR 2025 Embrace the new year with unforgeeable celebraaons. Choose from three stunning venues, each presennng a lavish gala dining experience. 31ST DECEMBER 2024 - NEW YEAR’S EVE GALA DINNER DPB - TERRACE GARDEN BAR ASSEMBLEIA MANDOVI & ZUARI LAWNS Exclusive sundowner party transiioning into a gala dinner under the stars. Band: Ryan N Naisa & DJ Gastronome Grand air-condiioned ballroom for a night of unparalleled elegance. Luxurious seaside gala with curated dining, live music, and mesmerizing entertainment. 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