In a shocking incident highlighting inefficiencies in Goa’s disaster management system, it took nearly three hours for a rescue boat to arrive at the site where a body was seen floating in the Mandovi River near Patto-Ribandar, Panjim. The delay occurred on October 18, 2024, with the Old Goa Fire Services calling for a boat from Ponda, approximately 32 kilometers away, due to the unavailability of a Panjim-based rescue vessel. Coastal Police boats were also unable to assist promptly, leaving the body in the water from 5 p.m. until its retrieval around 9:30 p.m.

Congress Media Cell Chairman Amarnath Panjikar called out the BJP government for its alleged failure in disaster management, questioning how Goa would handle a major emergency if basic coordination between agencies fails even in minor incidents. Social activist Mariano Ferrao and others also criticized the lack of preparedness, highlighting that key resources were either unavailable or misallocated at the time of the incident​.