Stopped from going into sea,youths beat up three lifeguards

Even as questions are being raised about inadequate safety measures taken by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Fire Brigade along the city’s beaches,three fire officers acting as lifeguards were beaten up by a group of revellers on Sunday. A group of 20 youngsters allegedly turned violent when the on-duty lifeguards tried to persuade them to not venture deep into the sea at the Gorai beach on Sunday afternoon.

A non-cognisable offence was registered against Bhavesh Tare and Neeraj Hamal,in their early twenties,for allegedly attacking the lifeguards. Station fire officer Mahendra Mithbawkar and two members of the Fire Brigade flood rescue team,Ramakant Parab and Devram Bhangre,were allegedly physically assaulted by the youths.

Divisional fire officer Y R Jadhav said around 2.45 pm,the group started venturing into deep sea and the lifeguards tried to stop them. “The day’s highest tide was predicted at 3.30 pm,so our lifeguards warned them to retreat towards the shore but they did not pay heed. When the lifeguards went further and tried to convince them,Tare and Hamal started verbally abusing them and assaulted them,” he said.

Deputy chief fire officer in charge of beach safety P S Rahangdale said even as the Fire Brigade has upped its beach safety measures due to the recent spate of drownings,on most occasions,citizens do not pay heed to the lifeguards’ warnings.