Beach outing for kids turns tragic, 15-year-old drowns at Arnala

On Sunday morning, four 15-year-old school friends, without informing their parents, visited the Arnala Beach where one of them drowned due to high tides. Fire brigade and police officials launched the search for the body.

According to Arnala Coastal police, Sachin Mishra, 15, a resident of Phoolpada in Virar, alongwith his four friends, all SSC students. They informed their parents that they were going out for a school assignment. At the Arnala Beach, Mishra started to run inside the deep sea leaving the three behind who did not know to swim. Due to high tide, Mishra slipped inside the deeper side and drowned. His three friends were shocked to see him drowning, but could not save him.

"Despite warnings, the tourists enter deep sea. Due to high tides, the other kids were in the waist deep water while Mishra went inside the deeper side. As the sand on several stretches has slided and one cannot understand the deepness, he was pulled in by the tides and drowned," said a Arnala Coastal police official.

"The kids had not informed their families about their beach outing. In the morning, we got a call about Mishra and we pressed our police team and the fire brigade to search the body. We have registered the case of accidental death," said Sandeep Shiwale, incharge, Arnala Coastal police station.

"We have requested the local authorities several times, to keep lifeguards at the beaches. Though there are boards which warn tourists to not enter the sea as it is dangerous, but warnings go unheard and such incidents take place", said Shiwale.