Mumbai: The overcrowded Aksa beach in Malad kept the seven lifeguards on their toes for two hours on Sunday. Around 19 people, including children and women, were restrained from going into the sea, averting any untoward incident, claimed the lifeguards. However, the Malwani police and Fire Brigade denied any incident of drowning and said the lifeguards were pulling people out of water for their safety.
Meanwhile, senior Inspector Chimaji Adhav said, “As it was a weekend, Aksa beach was crowded and lifeguards were pulling people out of the water for their safety, but no incident of drowning was reported.”
Video of rescue has surfaced:
Effects of Cyclone Biparjoy
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Entry to beaches was restricted due to cyclone Biporjoy. Hence, huge crowds swarmed to seashores after they were opened to the public on Sunday afternoon. The crowd on Aksa beach started to increase after 3pm and several people entered the sea ignoring the warning signs. The beaches are normally crowded on weekends and on public holidays, but this Sunday the crowd was comparatively more than any other day.
“It turned out to be a hectic day for us, we tried to stop several people from entering into the sea. Those who went to swim were pulled inside the sea due to rough currents. Every time we saw an individual or a group of people getting deep inside the sea, we would run and pull them out. Several people were rescued safely between 4.45pm to 6.45 pm. We have informed this to the Fire Brigade,” said a lifeguard. However, Chief Fire Officer Sanjay Manjrekar denied any drowning case reported to the Fire Brigade.
Four teenagers drowned at Juhu beach on June 12, after which the BMC decided to appoint 120 trained security guards to work in two shifts on six beaches of the city. However, the Aksa beach has no watchtowers while a patrol vehicle and warning siren are not in working condition, said sources.
