A 22-year-old tourist has been booked after his SUV got stuck and was partially swept by waves on Vagator beach in Anjuna, highlighting growing concerns over reckless driving along Goa’s coastline.
Vehicle trapped as tide rises
The incident occurred early Sunday morning when a Gujarat-registered Toyota Fortuner was driven onto the sandy stretch of Vagator beach. The vehicle became lodged in the sand, and as the tide rose, seawater began entering the SUV.
Authorities were forced to deploy heavy machinery, including a JCB, to pull the vehicle out of the water, drawing attention from onlookers and raising safety concerns.
Case registered against owner
Police identified the vehicle owner as Arjun Singh Rawat (22). Anjuna Police have registered a case under Sections 281 and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and Central Motor Vehicles Rules.
Officials stated that the vehicle was driven in a rash and negligent manner, endangering lives and violating strict regulations that prohibit vehicles from entering beach areas.
Owner claims vehicle was handed over
The owner later claimed that he had handed over the vehicle to hotel staff for washing and did not authorise it to be driven onto the beach.
However, police maintain that accountability lies with the person driving the vehicle at the time. Investigations are underway to determine the exact sequence of events and responsibility.
Rising concern over beach violations
The incident adds to a growing number of cases involving tourists driving vehicles onto beaches in Goa, often ignoring safety norms. Such actions not only pose risks to people but also damage fragile coastal ecosystems.
Authorities tighten enforcement
Officials have reiterated that strict action will be taken against violations, as part of ongoing efforts to ensure safety and protect Goa’s beaches from misuse.