log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SUNDAY APRIL 5, 2026 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 18 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 287 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 MOVIES »PAGE 18 GOOD LIFE »PAGE 14 LIVE SMART »PAGE 16 SPORTS »PAGE 10 Abhishek: It was always about a partnership Melatonin mirage Are we quietly burning out? Haaland destroys Liverpool as City reaches FA Cup semifinal Raj Kapoor’s historic home in Peshawar suffers damage Explore refreshing fruits packed with nutrients to stay hydrated Transform Easter eggs into creative festive expressions Deshpande’s final-over masterclass hands RR win GREETINGS THE GOAN wishes its readers, advertisers and well-wishers a happy Easter. May the Risen Lord shower you with abundant blessings. India’s sleep crisis is fuelling a melatonin boom A close look at the unnoticed, everyday tasks that consume time and energy 7 restaurants reduced to ashes in Arambol blaze  SHORT CIRCUIT TRIGGERS PRE-DAWN FIRE  PROPERTY WORTH LAKHS DESTROYED  4 COCONUT TREES BURNT THE GOAN I NETWORK >> SEE PG 2 BEYOND THE SCANDAL: HOW WE FAIL MINORS MAGAZINE MAGAZ 11 Eggs, faith and fireworks: Many sides of Easter Obesity and new-gen medicines: Pros and cons Breakaway: Good food, no gimmicks Law, continuity and the promise of renewal 13 IN SHORT >> Dengue cases fall sharply in Goa PANJIM: Goa has reported a significant drop in dengue cases this March, with only four patients detected across the State in the month. The Directorate of Health Services confirmed the numbers, noting that last March had seen seven cases, while February had recorded 21. >> See pg 3 Sattari grapples with LPG shortage VLAPOI: A state of confusion has gripped residents of Sattari over the past fortnight due to disruptions in gas cylinder distribution. Consumers have reported a sharp rise in delays, with many not receiving cylinders on time, triggering widespread public dissatisfaction.  >> See pg 6 Time is running out, Trump warns Iran WASHINGTON: US president Donald Trump on Saturday told Iran that “time is running out -- 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. PERNEM In a terrifying pre-dawn incident, a massive fire triggered by a short circuit tore through the serene coastline of Kharchawada-Arambol beach, reducing seven beachfront restaurants to ruins within minutes. While no lives were lost, property worth lakhs was gutted. The blaze erupted around 3 am when a sudden short circuit on an electric pole near one of the bamboo-structured restaurants sent a shower of sparks onto the dry, flammable structures. In a matter of moments, flames leapt, engulfing one restaurant after another in a raging chain reaction. Panic gripped the area as locals rushed to the scene. With little time to react, residents frantically alerted restaurant owners and tried to salvage whatever they could such that even towering coconut trees --some nearly 20 metres tall -- were charred in the inferno. At least four coconut trees and several others in the vicinity were destroyed. Nearby permanent structures also suffered damage, with doors, windows, and glass panes shattered or warped by the One of the restaurants that was engulfed in flames. from the rapidly spreading fire. But strong coastal winds fanned the flames, turning the fire into a ferocious inferno that proved impossible to contain. All seven restaurants were completely destroyed, with losses estimated between Rs 15 to Rs 30 lakh. A local resident Haresh Mayekar informed that the Pernem Fire Brigade was swiftly alerted, but in a twist, their vehicle got stuck in the loose beach sand, delaying critical response time. Undeterred, firefighters, along with police and locals, battled the blaze using whatever resources they could muster until it was finally brought under control. The intensity of the fire was PANAJI oa has recorded the highest unemployment rate in India, according to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The report shows that between January and December 2025, Goa’s unemployment rate stood at 8.3 per cent, well above the national average of 3.1 per cent. Nagaland ranked second with 6.7 per cent, followed by Arunachal Pradesh at 6.6 per cent. Other States with high unemployment included G heat. However, a greater tragedy was averted as the restaurants were closed at the time, and no gas cylinders were present inside. What remains now is a trail of destruction -- ashes where bustling beachside eateries once stood, and a stark reminder of how quickly calm can turn into catastrophe. MP student dies in Vagator, drug overdose suspected THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA A 21-year-old MBA student from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, identified as Ishan Singh Badgujar, died under suspicious circumstances at Vagator in the early hours of Saturday. The cause of death is suspected to be either a drug overdose or a heart attack. According to information, a group of nine MBA students from Indore had arrived in Goa on a tour. On Friday night, the group visited Rita Club Restaurant in Vagator and later exited around 2 am, heading towards their vehicle. At that time, Ishan reportedly began to feel unwell and suddenly collapsed. His friends rushed him in their vehicle to a private hospital in >Continued on P8 AFTER A YEAR OF PROTESTS… People’s power triumphs, Hodar jetty project axed PROJECT PROPONENT BOWS TO PUBLIC SENTIMENT THE GOAN I NETWORK SANGUEM In a dramatic turn of events, the proposed multi-cargo handling jetty project at Hodar has been decisively shelved, marking a resounding triumph for the determined villagers of Xeldem and Hodar. After more than a year of relentless protests and unwavering resistance, the voices of the people have prevailed. For months, the quiet coastal belt echoed not with the sounds of industry, but with the rising chorus of dissent. Villagers stood united, warning of irreversible environmental damage and the destruction of their ageold livelihoods. Their fears were clear: the proposed jetty threatened to choke traditional fishing practices and scar a fragile ecosystem rich with coconut groves that sustain countless families. The decisive moment came during a high-stakes meeting in Panjim, where local rep- www.stonehill.in B A N G A L O R E „„Irreversible damage to „„Danger to ancestral environment lands and heritage „„Threat to tra„„Restricted acditional fishing cess to farmlands WHAT livelihoods and local routes LOCALS „„Risk of ecosys„„Disruption of FEARED community way tem destruction (including coconut of life groves) „„Overall concern „„Loss of primary income about long-term survival & sources for families sustainability resentatives firmly drew the line. In a rare and decisive outcome, project proponent Dinar Tarcar bowed to public sentiment, agreeing to scrap the project altogether. The announcement brought an immediate end to the prolonged agitation, triggering scenes of relief and celebration across the twin villages. Residents had long maintained that the project endangered not just their environment, but their very way of life -- posing a grave risk to ances- tral lands and access routes to farmlands. Their stand was not merely opposition, but a fight for survival and preservation. Local representative Sushant hailed the development as a “people’s victory,” expressing gratitude that the collective will of the villagers had finally been acknowledged. He also pointed to the swift resolution as a rare example in Goa, >Continued on P8 Goa tops India’s unemployment charts: Data THE GOAN I NETWORK Major fire breaks out at Margao new market, triggers panic >> See pg 3 RISEN GLORY: Parish priest of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church, Panaji, Fr Cipriano Da Silva carries the lit Paschal candle, signifying the triumph of light over darkness and the resurrection of Christ, marking the beginning of the Easter Vigil celebration.   Narayan Pissurlenkar YOUR CHILD’S GATEWAY TO THE BEST UNIVERSITIES IN THE WORLD MEET THE STONEHILL ADMISSIONS TEAM IN GOA! Meet us for a face-to-face discussion* 09 - 10th April 2026 At Vivanta Goa, Panaji th *To set up a meeting, contact Nisha : admissions@stonehill.in 9071098881 GOA’S JOBLESSNESS: FACTS & FIGURES According to Periodic Labour Force Survey „„Overall unemployment rate recorded is 8.3% vs national average 3.1% „„Rural unemployment (11.9%) nearly double that of urban (6.1%) „„Unemployment among rural men @12.1% compared to rural women 11.4% „„Urban men recorded 6.6% while urban women 4.8% „„Significant rural job crisis in the State „„PLFS survey covered 1.48 lakh households and 6.56 lakh individuals Manipur (5.9), Punjab (5.3), Uttarakhand (5.1), Telangana (5), Meghalaya (4.8), Haryana (4.5), Himachal Pradesh (4.5), and Rajasthan (4.3). Gujarat reported the lowest rate at just 0.9 per cent. Madhya Pradesh (1.5), Karnataka (2.3), Chhattisgarh (2.3), and Maharashtra (2.4) also recorded relatively low figures. The PLFS survey covered 1.48 lakh households and 6.56 lakh individuals across nationwide GOVT’S TAKE „„Figures may be inflated due to employment exchange registrations „„People already employed reportedly remain registered for govt jobs, skewing data the country, spanning all education levels from primary to postgraduate. In Goa, the rural unemployment rate was 11.9 per cent, >Continued on P8 Stonehill is a premium day and boarding international school in Bangalore. We exclusively offer all four IB programmes (PYP, MYP, DP & CP) for ages 3–18. Our residential programme gives students a true home away from home experience— with spacious, comfortable living spaces and a rich variety of extracurricular activities. Spread across 34 acres of verdant countryside, we provide children with the amenities and opportunities they need to learn, grow, and transform into leaders of tomorrow. Student support services Caring house parents 24-hour medical center Wi-Fi enabled campus AC bedrooms with attached bathrooms Multi-cuisine cafeteria Fun activities on weekends Spacious gym Over the past eighteen years, Stonehill has nurtured confident, responsible global citizens, supported by a robust career guidance programme that offers one-on-one counselling and expert mentorship—helping students gain admission into some of the world’s leading universities, including Stanford, MIT, UCLA, Dartmouth, Cambridge, London School of Economics (LSE), National University of Singapore, and Hong Kong University.