‘I had warned them but they didn’t listen’

Sixty-year-old Hirabai wishes the six men had listened to her when she warned them against crossing the creek that conn ects Versova beach to Juhu beach. “The current was strong and I told them to stay away from the creek but none of them paid any heed,” the fisherwoman said.

Sixty-year-old Hirabai wishes the six men had listened to her when she warned them against crossing the creek that connects Versova beach to Juhu beach. “The current was strong and I told them to stay away from the creek but none of them paid any heed,” the fisherwoman said.

HT Image

She said she saw the men struggle. “I called out and told them not to attempt crossing the creek. Other locals also came and started telling the men to go away but they did not bother listening,” Hirabai said.

“They tried to hold on to each other but the current pulled them in.” Hirabai and the others gathered at the spot alerted the lifeguards, who rushed there but it was too late.

“There are no lifeguards this side because it is a creek. Since it is connected to the Juhu beach, the lifeguards rushed to the creek when alerted but it was too late,” said Chief Fire Officer Uday Tatkare.

“The garbage forms a layer at the bottom of the creek and the current on the surface increases,” Hirabai said.