Versova beach drowning: Two bodies wash ashore

MUMBAI: The bodies of two of the three boys, who drowned into the sea at Versova beach on Saturday evening, washed ashore on Sunday morning. One of them was pulled

MUMBAI: The bodies of two of the three boys, who drowned into the sea at Versova beach on Saturday evening, washed ashore on Sunday morning. One of them was pulled out on Saturday itself, but he died later.

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Following the incident, Versova police on Sunday beefed up security on the beach and barred entry to the area.

A group of five youngsters had on Saturday evening come to the beach and three of them ventured into the sea despite being warned by a lifeguard.

The three victims — Priyank Yadav, 25, Satyaprasad Chauhan, 25, and Rohit Tiwari, 27 — were drinking alcohol while hiding behind the rocks on the beach before the incident, the police said.

The group had come to the beach to celebrate the birthday of Tiwari, who was a resident of Four Bungalows area in Andheri (West).

“They were initially removed from the spot by the lifeguard. When the guard decided to take a round, the three went into the rough sea. They struggled to swim and stay afloat because of the choppy waters,” said a fire officer, on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media.

Their friends, who remained by the shore, raised an alarm and called for help.

While Yadav was rescued on Saturday after they drowned at 4.30 pm, Tiwari and Chauhan’s bodies washed ashore a few hundred metres from the spot, said Kiran Ganjve, a lifeguard at the beach.

Meanwhile, people turned up at the beach in droves to enjoy their Sunday, but the police asked them to leave during high tide and allowed entry only in the evening during low tide.

Ganjve added that although there were several drowning cases at the beach last year, this one was the first this year.

A team of seven lifeguards — five permanent and two on contract — saved around 10 people this year, said Ganjve.

A life guard said, “It’s a risky job and with no job security no one wants to work as a lifeguard. For several years we have been made to work on contract basis.”