Goa Congress leader Ketan Bhatikar died after being bitten by a snake late Thursday night near Karmal Ghat on the Goa-Karnataka border. Police said the 38-year-old was travelling toward Dandeli village in Karnataka when he got down and was bitten. He was rushed to a primary health centre in Dharbandora, Goa, but doctors declared him brought dead. Bhatikar had recently emerged as a key Congress face in the Ponda assembly bypoll, later cancelled after a high court order.
Goa’s Public Works Department is facing scrutiny after a contractor and civil engineer alleged a Rs 1000-crore tender fraud. The complainants say a private firm manipulated records to obtain Class IAA (Super) status, then secured lucrative Goa contracts by submitting forged or misleading documents that should have failed eligibility checks. Allegations include procedural lapses tied to the Mudi Tank Filling Scheme, including multiple versions of completion certificates and mismatched joint-venture partner details. Goa PWD’s response and any investigation are awaited.
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A 17-year-old Class 12 student in Goa allegedly died by suicide hours after NEET-UG 2026 was cancelled, prompting renewed concern over exam-linked stress. Police recovered a note citing academic pressure, emotional exhaustion, and struggles balancing studies with hockey. While investigators have not confirmed a direct link to the cancellation, they said the sudden change may have intensified his distress.
ASK Curated Luxury Asset Fund I has invested Rs 63 crore in Ananda Nilaya, a luxury villa project by a Goa-based developer in Arpora, North Goa. The development will offer 28 villas and is projected to generate up to Rs 360 crore in revenue, highlighting a high-stakes push into premium real estate.
Goa has notified over 82 lakh square metres as a no-development zone to curb unchecked construction on fragile hill slopes, according to officials from the Town and Country Planning department. The Centre has also cleared plans to designate 6,729 hectares along the Mandovi-Zuari stretch as eco-sensitive. Paddy fields are reportedly next in line for NDZ protection.
A woman in Goa, identified as Sushmitha Gowrav, shared an Instagram account of a parasailing ordeal after a video went viral. She says the ride turned terrifying when the rope tightened around her neck, leaving her in panic midair. The footage has sparked concern online and raised questions about safety practices for adventure operators in the region.
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India’s second-home market is bouncing back as Non-Resident Indians increasingly favor familiar, stable destinations over volatile Dubai. Demand is rising in hotspots like Goa, Alibaug, and Himachal Pradesh, driven by buyers seeking cultural comfort, emotional security, and steadier investment prospects. The shift signals changing risk preferences amid global uncertainty.
Goa’s Forest Department has mapped 6.72 crore square metres along the Mandovi and Zuari rivers as ecologically sensitive. It has now sent the demarcation maps to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department, urging regulatory measures to curb unregulated development and protect the river ecosystems. The move targets stretches deemed environmentally critical.
A 13-year-old student, Rueisha Kharsel, died after being struck on the head by a hockey ball during training at St Anthony's High School in Guirim. The incident occurred on the final day before summer vacations. She collapsed and was rushed to hospital, but was declared dead. Police have registered the death as unnatural.
Goa has unveiled a draft Artificial Intelligence policy aimed at transforming the state into a global technology hub. Alongside plans for AI skilling, innovation, and better governance and public services, one proposal stands out: restricting social media access for children under 16. The draft policy is now open for public feedback before finalization.
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Goa’s Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane says a factual report on private forest areas will be finalized by May 30 and submitted to the National Green Tribunal. The government plans a proper assessment to address past injustices, with the forest department advertising survey numbers and holding hearings before the final submission.
The Indian Coast Guard on Friday executed a swift medical evacuation of a 24-year-old Indian sailor from a UK-flagged merchant vessel off the Goa coast. Coast Guard Ship C-427 reached the mariner quickly and helped transfer him for urgent care. The operation was highlighted as a prompt response by the agency, showing its readiness even on foreign flagged ships.
Indian summer travel is being redesigned in real time. With Middle East tensions and rising airfares making long-haul routes to Europe and the US feel costly and riskier, many travelers are switching to domestic getaways and nearer Asian destinations. Travel firms say demand is climbing for Goa and Phuket as classic European itineraries lose shine.
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