17 July,2026 10:58 AM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondent
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A 17-year-old boy drowned while another remains missing after the two were swept away by strong sea currents at Arnala beach in Maharashtra's Palghar district. Rescue teams continued search operations on Friday, but rough weather, high tides and strong waves hampered efforts to trace the missing teenager.
The incident occurred on Thursday at Arnala beach in Virar, on the outskirts of Mumbai, when four teenagers entered the sea for a swim despite rough conditions.
According to officials, the four minors ventured into the sea when they were pulled into deeper waters by powerful currents. Lifeguards stationed at the beach immediately launched a rescue operation and managed to bring two of the boys safely back to shore.
However, the remaining two teenagers were swept away by the strong current, prompting an extensive search operation involving multiple agencies.
Authorities said the incident took place despite warnings about hazardous sea conditions during the ongoing monsoon season.
Officials confirmed that the body of 17-year-old Ayaan Zakir Hussain was recovered on Friday morning.
The second missing teenager, identified as 17-year-old Shoaib, had not been traced at the time of filing this report.
Vivekanand Kadam, chief of the Palghar disaster management cell, said teams from the revenue department, police and local lifeguards are continuing the search operation.
He added that adverse weather conditions, including high tides and massive waves, have significantly affected rescue efforts.
"The search mission will be intensified as soon as the sea conditions improve," the official said.
Earlier, an official from the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) fire brigade said the department received an emergency call at around 10.45 am on Thursday after four boys entered the sea and found themselves unable to return to shore.
"On-duty lifesavers immediately launched a rescue operation and managed to pull two of the boys to safety. However, the other two were swiftly carried away by the strong current," the official said.
The official said rescue operations have been challenging because of turbulent sea conditions.
"Our rescue boat struggled to withstand the turbulent waves. Currently, the tide is so strong that even trained swimmers cannot brave the water," the fire brigade official added.
Arnala Sarpanch Nandkumar Gharat said warning boards had been installed across the beach, but many visitors continued to ignore safety advisories and enter the water.
"These boys bypassed the attention of the lifesavers on duty, entered the water, and were subsequently washed away by the tide," Gharat said, appealing to citizens and tourists to avoid venturing into the sea during rough weather.
The district administration has already imposed prohibitory orders restricting entry near water bodies across the region during the monsoon due to the increased risk of drowning and flooding.
In a separate incident, a 10-year-old boy drowned in a lake in Mumbai's Andheri West area on July 13.
According to a civic official, the incident occurred at the Wireless Compound in Juhu Gully, DN Nagar, at around 2.25 pm. Police informed civic authorities that two to three children from a nearby slum had entered the lake, which is located on private property, to swim.
"As per information received from police, two to three children from a nearby slum had gone swimming in the lake, which is located on private property. One of them, identified as Dinesh Basawraj Harijan (10), drowned and a search operation has been launched," the official informed.
(With inputs from PTI)
