20-year-old drowns, three feared dead

Mumbai: A 20-year-old youth from Nalasopara, who had gone on a weekend trip to Dadra Pada in Kelwa with six friends, drowned in the Arabian Sea on Wednesday. The deceased has been identified as Deepak Chalwadi. Three others — Tushar Chipte (15), Kshitij Naik (15) and Dipesh Pednekar, who are non-swimmers — are missing. The Palghar police launched a search operation for the trio.

The police said that the accident took place when the group went for a swim in the sea at around 2.30 pm.  

The rescue operation was launched soon after the survivors, Sanket Jogle (17), Devidas Jadhav (16) and Gaurav Sawant (17), spotted their friends struggling to stay afloat and they raised an alarm to attract the attention of the locals and the lifeguards.

“We have found Chalwadi’s body, which washed ashore after some time. The search operation for Chipte, Naik and Pednekar is underway. The help of coastal police and fishermen is also being taken,” said Hemant Katkar, spokesperson of Palghar police station.

The officials said that warning boards had been set up at Dadra Pada, a part of the Kelwa beach, to warn the visitors from venturing far into the water, as currents are strong during the monsoon. The sea was rough when the quartet ventured into the sea.

“They went for a swim during the high tide and the sea was rough due to heavy rains,” said an officer of Kelwa police station. An accidental death report will be registered in the incident, a police officer said.