More lifeguards for Mumbai’s Juhu and Versova beaches soon

Mumbai city news: Playing in the waters of the Juhu and Versova beaches will soon get safer.

Playing in the waters of the Juhu and Versova beaches will soon get safer.

Picture for representation

The city’s fire brigade plans to increase the number of lifeguards posted at Girgaum Chowpatty, Dadar, Juhu, Versova, Aksa and Gorai beaches.

“The proposal is to deploy 104 lifeguards through the year. This has been approved,” said chief fire officer, PS Rahangdale.

Juhu is Mumbai’s most popular — and busiest — beach. Currently, there are seven lifeguards each posted at Juhu and Versova.

READ: 12-year-old drowns off Mumbai’s Juhu beach

Following the decision to up beach safety, two units, or 28 lifeguards, will be posted at Juhu and 14 at Versova.

Residents have been insisting on improving beach safety at Juhu.

The Juhu Citizen Welfare Group member Zahida Banatwala said: “There should be a state agency made responsible.”

Versova’s baywatcher Akshay Kokane told HT reporter, “The permanent lifeguard is on leave sometimes, so we definitely need more lifeguards to keep citizens safe.”

Last month’s four drowning incidents took place near the Juhu jetty, where lifeguards are not posted.

Last year, 247 people were rescued at the six beaches.