Mumbai: A fun boat ride turns fatal for 16-year-old

What was meant to be a fun water sport turned fatal for a 16-year old, who breathed his last a day after an accident during the banana boat ride at Juhu beach. A senior inspector said that when the banana boat toppled, Nikhil Balasaheb Unde didn't let go of the rope attached to it in fear and came under it. He had taken in a lot of water by the time he was rescued, he added.

On a visit to Mumbai

A Navi Mumbai resident, Nikhil and his sister Chakuli Balasaheb Unde, 22, were visiting their aunt, a constable, in Mahim. Their aunt, Sharmila Amle, is posted at Khar police station. The accident happened around 5.45 pm on Wednesday and Nikhil breathed his last on Thursday night at Cooper hospital.

Nikhil Unde, the deceased

The police have arrested Kunal Dinesh Mangela who was riding the motor boat that was towing the unpowered, inflatable banana boat.

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Senior Inspector Deepak Basarkar of Santacruz police station, where an FIR has been filed, said, "Nikhil, Chakuli and their cousin had food on the beach, and then decided to go for a banana ride. They paid R200 each to the operator, wore life jackets, hopped on the inflatable boat and held on to the attached rope tightly.

The accident

"Mangela started the motor boat and took the trio on a ride. Towards the end, the banana boat is topped as part of the amusement ride, and Mangela did too. The riders were instructed to leave the rope during the fall. However, Nikhil held onto the rope in fear even after people around him asked him to let go. Because of this, he came under the boat and took in a lot of water," the cop said.

"Within 10 minutes of the accident, rescuers arrived at the scene and found Nikhil unconscious and floating. He was rushed to Cooper hospital, where doctors tried hard but could not save him. He succumbed late Thursday night while undergoing treatment," Basarkar added.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 9) Anil Paraskar said, "We have registered a case under IPC Sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others). We also checked and found that the boat operators had a licence from the Maharashtra Maritime Board for operating the banana boats at Juhu beach."

Amle, the aunt, told mid-day, "I had the children on a picnic. When they decided to go on a boat ride, I instructed the rider not to topple the banana boat and not go deep into the sea. After the accident, the children were in the sea for 10 minutes.

"The rider told us that the boat stopped due to some technical fault and the banana boat toppled. Nikhil died because of rider's negligence," she added.