Cops and civic officials urge youngsters not to risk their lives for some likes and comments on social media; ask parents to be more vigil as most victims and rescued individuals are minor
People who visit Bandstand refuse to heed warnings, say locals
The reel makers are so engrossed in filming videos and taking selfies that they undermine the threat of tidal waves,” said a slum dweller at Bandra Bandstand, where a woman drowned a week ago. Even though several lives have been lost in drowning incidents since the rains arrived in the city last month, visitors to seashores, dams and waterfalls are throwing caution to the wind and risking their lives.
Authorities in Mumbai and the surrounding cities said they have installed boards and signs, cautioning visitors of the dangers and asking them not to enter water bodies. Yet, not everyone heeds to the request. Visitors are mostly youngsters and couples, said officials.
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Ravi Jha, Raushan Rathod and Rakesh Surela
Since June 12, a total of 13 people have died in different incidents in Mumbai, Thane and Palghar district, and one person has been missing.
In the city, police struggled to keep youngsters away from the shores at Bandstand in Bandra over the weekend.
“The monsoon gives us additional workload, as picnickers don’t only put their lives at risk, but also endanger the lives of rescuers,” said an officer at Bandra police station.
Visitors at a waterfall at Tungareshwar in Vasai. Pics/Hanif Patel
Residents of Ganesh Nagar told mid-day that they have also been trying to stop people from venturing into the sea. “But some of them do not listen to us. We can only suggest that they do not enter the sea,” said a resident.
Most victims minor
According to police, more than half of the victims so far were minors, hence it becomes the parents’ responsibility to ensure their children do not enter risk zones unsupervised.
Sometimes, children leave their home on the pretext of playing, but end up on a beach or at waterfalls.
Youngsters jump for a swim in a dam in Virar
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (Mumbai-Zone 9) Krishnakant Upadhyay said, “We have increased patrolling in the area so that people don’t get into the sea. We have kept lifeguards on standby, installed warning signs and deployed police vans to alert people.”
“All precautionary measures are being taken. But we request people not to go into the sea and endanger their lives. The rocks at Bandstand are slippery and many tragic incidents have taken place in the past,” he added.
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Commissioner of Police Madhukar Pandey of Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar said, “We have requested lifeguards from the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) and gram panchayats in addition to our patrols. We request people to be careful during heavy rain and avoid undue risks.” DCP Pournima Chougule-Shringi said, “Mostly youngsters and couples visit waterfalls and beaches in the monsoon. The waterfall in Naigaon and coastal areas in Vasai attract the youth. We have deployed police and put hoardings and banners at these points to alert the visitors.”
“We are spreading awareness through social media and taking the help of the gram suraksha team to issue warnings. Parents also have an important role to play here. They cannot just let their children venture into dangerous spots to increase their likes or followers on social media, especially during monsoon,” she added.
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Security has also been heightened at waterfalls and dams near Mumbai, as people, including Mumbaikars, frequent these places during monsoon.
VVCMC Commissioner Anil Pawar said, “We have deployed additional security guards at places like dams and waterfalls. We have installed boards warning visitors against entering the water bodies. We have sought the police’s help. Recently, incidents were reported in Vasai Virar. We are trying our best to save lives, but people do not understand the dangers of such places, particularly during monsoon, and entering via hidden routes.”
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Palghar police Balasaheb Patil said, “There are two waterfalls in Jawhar taluka—Dabhosa and Kalmandavi. These attract people from Mumbai, Thane and other nearby areas. On July 17, we imposed Section 144 of IPC to restrict visitors’ entry, as these waterfalls become very slippery during the rains. People have drowned here while trying to record videos for likes and comments.”
“We have deployed police teams, as visitors were seen at these waterfalls despite warnings. Also, we are spreading awareness with the help of local residents and have deployed good swimmers to the area for emergencies,” said Patil.
20K
No. of visitors, at Bandstand in Bandra on Saturday, Sunday
The drowning accidents
Three people have died this monsoon at this waterfall at Jawhar in Palghar district
June 14, Juhu
In the afternoon, four teenagers drowned off the coast in Juhu. Rescuers had managed to pull out the bodies of Dharmesh Valji Faujiya, 16, Shubham Yogesh Bhogania, 16, and Manish Yogesh Oganiya, 12. However, Jay Roshan Tajbariya, 15, remains missing.
July 10, Bandra
A big wave swept away 32-year-old Jyoti Sonar into the sea at Bandstand, Bandra. Her husband Mukesh Sonar, who was sitting alongside her, was pulled out alive
July 16, Virar
In the evening, three children drowned at Papadkhind dam in Fulwadi, Virar. Local residents managed to save two children. The deceased were identified as Om Borade, 11, Ansh, 12, and Vansh, 11.
July 14, Vasai
A group of six friends from Nalasopara embarked on a trek to a waterfall. Roshan Rathod, 19, and Ravi Jha, 18, misjudged the current, jumped into the water and died.
July 16, Marve creek
Three boys, who were part of a group of five, went missing after venturing deep for a swim. Local fishermen rescued two children—Krishna Jitendra Harijan, 16, and Ankush Bharat Shivare, 13. The children who drowned are Nikhil Sajid Kayampur, 13, Subham Rajkumar Jaiswal, 12, and Ajay Jitendra Harijan, 12.
July 17, Thane
Around 2 pm, after leaving college, a group of 7-8 teenagers decided to swim in Upvan Lake in Thane. However, 17-year-old Aditya Pawar drowned
28-year-old drowns in Bhayandar
The Mira Bhayandar fire brigade retrieved the body of a 28-year-old man who drowned in the Nagarbhavan Talav in Bhayandar West on Monday. The youth, identified as Amit Das, was standing near the Nagarbhavan (Mandal) Talav in the evening with his friends. An argument broke out between Das and the children who were feeding the fish in the lake. After the children left, Das decided to go into the lake to cool off.
Das went despite his friends’ opposition. After a long while, when Das did not return to the shore, his worried friends ran towards his house nearby and informed his family about it. The fire brigade too was informed and the team arrived on the scene. They dived into the water and retrieved Das’s body. The cause of his death will be determined after receiving the medical report.
By Shirish Vaktania
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