Five enter the sea to wash Holi colours, drown near Mumbai

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, Mar 22, 2019 : Five Vasai residents who had gone to wash off the colours after a Holi celebration drowned in the sea at Kalambh beach in Nalla Sopara on Thursday evening, Hindustan times reported.

 

While none of them could swim, there was no lifeguard at the beach.

The eight from the Mourya and Gupta families, neighbours in Gokul Park society in Vasai, reached the beach around 2.30pm.

Six of them got into the water during high tide, according to the rescue teams. At the time of going to press, body of a boy – Prashant Mourya, 17, – was recovered at Bhuigaon, two km from the spot.

Appasaheb Lengare, inspector, Arnala police station, said, “Dinesh Gupta, 36, who is around six-ft tall, found that the water levels were rising owing to the high tide. He told his wife, Sheetal, 32; Nisha Mourya, 36; her daughter, Priya Mourya, 19; her son, Prashant, 17, and relative Kanchan Gupta, 35, to return to the shore. But before they could rush back to safety, all five of them were washed away. Only Dinesh came back safe.”

The police have registered a case of accidental death and Prashant’s body has been sent for post-mortem.

Michael Lopez, a fireman with the Vasai fire brigade, said, “Every year, hundreds of Holi revelers come to the sea to wash off the colour. The saline water works better than a facewash or soap. There was no lifeguard or warning signboards at the spot.”

Meantime, the Coast Guard and fire brigade will continue the search on Friday morning, said Lengare.

The Kalambh beach is an isolated spot in Nirmal village in Nalla Sopara and is a favourite among picnickers.

It is the fourth beach connected in a row to Arnala, Navapur, and Rajodi beach in Palghar district. The beach is clean and is known for its grey, thick
sand.

At least 60 Holi-related injuries were reported across major hospitals in the city on Thursday. Last year, the figure was 52.

Doctors at KEM Hospital in Parel treated 27 patients for injuries ranging from eye irritation, fractures, sprains, abrasions, cuts and giddiness caused by bhang consumption. “Many injuries were a result of assaults under the influence of alcohol,” said a casualty medical officer at the hospital’s outpatient department.

Dr Hemant Deshmukh, dean of the hospital said none of the patients required hospitalisation.

The civic-run Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, Sion saw most cases of eye injuries. “Patients complained of eye irritation. We gave them eye drops to prevent secondary infection and soothe the irritation,” said the on-call assistant dean.

At BYL Nair hospital, Mumbai Central, 13 people were treated for skin abrasions, eye irritation, nausea and giddiness. “This year, we didn’t see any major injuries,” said Dr Ramesh Bharmal, dean of the hospital.

Doctors at the state-run Sir JJ hospital, Byculla, said a 42-year old man who slipped while playing was referred to the orthopaedic department. “We also got a patient who had trouble hearing owing to the colour in his ear,” said Dr Sanjay Surase, medical superintendent of the hospital. (HT Correspondent)