Juhu Koliwada drowning: 46 hours on, 1 teenager still missing; search operation underway

Seeking to prevent drowning accidents at Mumbai’s beaches, the BMC has rolled out a proposal to recruit 120 trained security guards at six chowpatty locations.

Cyclone Biparjoy: Rescue ops on at Juhu beach to look for missing boy

Search and rescue operations are going on to loate a boy, who went missing along with three other boys, after being washed off by the sea. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)

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One of the four boys who were washed away in a high tide at Juhu Koliwada remains untraced as of Wednesday — more than two days after search operations began. The bodies of the three other boys were recovered on Tuesday.

The search operation was still underway until Wednesday night, for the missing boy who has been identified as Jay Roshan Tajbhariya (16). Officials claim that the winds pushed by cyclonic storm Biparjoy as well as the high tidal waves have prolonged the search operation.

A senior MFB official told The Indian Express, “On the first day, the waters were extremely choppy and there were high tidal waves because of the cyclonic winds. Furthermore, since the monsoon is approaching, the sea is rough. Our only hope in recovering the missing minor’s body is if the sea washes his body ashore.” The official added that the search operation teams have scoured the coastline from Khar – Danda Koliwada to Versova, in search of the missing victim.

“The BMC and contracted lifeguards as well as Mumbai Fire Brigade along with FRT members and naval forces are still engaged in the search operations.”, he added.

On Monday evening, four boys from Vakola, all aged 16, were feared drowned after five children who were sitting on the edge of the jetty at Juhu Koliwada, near Juhu beach, were washed away in a high tide. While one of them had been rescued alive by the local fishermen, local lifeguards, personnel of the Flood and Rescue Team (FRT), Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), and the police started an operation to rescue the other boys.

The members of the rescue operation teams added that bodies of the three victims who had been recovered by Tuesday had been washed ashore by the waves at various scattered points away from the jetty.

While the body of one of the boys, identified as Dharmesh Faujiya, had been recovered off the coast of Juhu beach, near Ramada Plaza on Monday night, bodies of brothers, Shubham Oganiya and Manish Oganiya, were discovered by a team of life guards near Juhu Koliwada.

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Speaking to The Indian Express, police officials from Santacruz police station said that they received the postmortem report on Tuesday which shows the cause of death as drowning.

On Tuesday, a senior civic body official said, “Owing to the tidal waves the bodies went into deep water which took us more time in rescuing the body. Also, since there was a sporadic spell of rain, we had to take multiple pauses during the operation, since visibility was also an issue.”

Guards at chowpatty locations

Seeking to prevent drowning accidents at Mumbai’s beaches, the BMC has rolled out a proposal to recruit 120 trained security guards at six chowpatty locations across Mumbai. The decision has been taken in a bid to create awareness and refrain the public from entering the sea to prevent untoward drowning accidents.

“Girgaon, Dadar, Juhu, Versova, Aksa and Gorai will have 60 trained security guards on duty between 8 am and 4 pm and 60 trained security guards between 3 pm and 11 pm.”, read a notice released by the civic body on Wednesday.

Nayonika Bose

Nayonika Bose is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. While in the early stages of her career, her focused reporting on local governance and community welfare already demonstrates clear Expertise and Trustworthiness in covering essential civic issues impacting Mumbai's residents. Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T) Specialized Focus: Nayonika's reporting is dedicated to civic and community issues, providing readers with highly relevant, ground-level information about the functionality and administration of India's largest metropolitan area. Core Coverage Areas: Her articles highlight a strong focus on the fundamental quality of life and public safety in Mumbai, including: Civic Infrastructure: Reports on critical failures and initiatives related to public works, such as the recurring problem of unauthorized building collapses in Navi Mumbai, the construction of new infrastructure projects (like the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road and the Mahalaxmi cable-stayed bridge), and the maintenance of essential city services (e.g., manhole cover theft). Urban Governance & Crisis Management: Provides detailed coverage of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) response to major crises, particularly during the monsoon (e.g., heavy rainfall, water cuts, and public health concerns like dengue and malaria) and large-scale public safety incidents (e.g., the hoarding collapse fallout). Community Welfare & Rights: Reports on key social issues, including the financial aid scheme for persons with disabilities, the struggles of Mumbai's hawkers protesting eviction drives, and the dangers faced by workers due to the continuation of manual scavenging in water tanks. Cultural & Heritage Reporting: Covers significant community stories, including the restoration of British-era fountains and the history of institutions like the 126-year-old Chinchpokli cemetery, showing a breadth of interest beyond pure administration. Tweets @nayonikakb ... Read More

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