Palghar, Maharashtra: Tragedy struck Palghar district on Saturday as two separate drowning incidents claimed the lives of a young man and a student. The rising summer heat had driven many residents to local water bodies in search of relief, but the lack of safety measures turned fatal for two families.
The incidents highlight the dangers of swimming in unregulated water bodies, especially during the hot summer months.
In the first incident, 24-year-old Abhishek Birhade drowned while swimming in the Maswan dam on the Surya River in Palghar. Birhade had visited the popular spot with friends to cool off, but underestimated the depth of the water. His friends, unable to rescue him, quickly alerted local residents and the police. A search operation was launched, and his body was eventually recovered from the deep waters later in the evening.
In another heartbreaking case from Dahanu, a student identified as Daksh Sagar Marde went missing after being swept away by strong currents while swimming in the Surya canal near Sarani village. Despite desperate search efforts by family members, locals, and police, the student remained untraceable until the following day.
Authorities had requested a temporary halt in the water flow from the Surya Project, which allowed search teams to locate Daksh’s body, found trapped about 100 meters downstream from the spot where he was last seen.
With temperatures climbing, crowds across the district are seeking relief in local water bodies, including seas, rivers, dams, and canals. Popular destinations include the beaches of Kelwa, Shirgaon, Chinchani, Dahanu, and Bordi, along with rivers like the Surya, Vaitarna, Deherja, and Pinjal.
The Surya dam canals and the scenic Kalmandavi waterfall in Jawhar taluka are also drawing large numbers of visitors. Spots such as Maswan dam, Sarani and Ranshet canals have become particular favorites, with videos of people swimming at these locations widely circulating on social media.
Authorities have repeatedly warned against swimming in deep and fast-moving waters, especially in the absence of life jackets or trained lifeguards. Local social media is flooded with videos and reels of youth swimming at these sites, often ignoring safety protocols, and in some cases even consuming alcohol before venturing into the water.
Residents and officials alike are calling for stricter safety measures, including the installation of warning signs, lifeguard deployment, and increased public awareness to prevent such tragedies in the future.
