Mumbai: A solemn ritual turned into a tragic accident at Worli’s Lotus Jetty near Haji Ali on Saturday evening, when three men were swept away by powerful waves during an ash immersion ceremony. They were rescued by a police official with help from local fishermen. Unfortunately, two were declared brought dead, while the third, reportedly a GST inspector, is undergoing treatment at Nair Hospital in Mumbai Central.
The deceased have been identified as Santosh Vishweshwar (51) and Kunal Kokate (45), while Sanjay Sarvankar (58) was rescued in time. According to Tardeo police, Vishweshwar, a resident of Delisle Road, had recently lost his mother and had gone to Lotus Jetty with Kokate and Sarvankar to perform the final rites by immersing her ashes in the sea. Tragically, he lost his life while performing the very ritual meant to honor his late mother.
A local fisherman said, "Special arrangements are in place for ash immersion near the Lotus Jetty, including a police post stationed at the site. Due to the high tide on Saturday afternoon, people were warned not to enter the sea. Instead, they were advised to place the ashes in urns at the designated spot."
As per the police, "Despite police warnings about high tide conditions, the trio entered the water around 3:45 PM. A sudden, powerful wave struck and swept all three into the sea. Sarvankar managed to grab a rope and was pulled to safety, but Vishweshwar and Kokate were dragged under," said police.
Police with the help of local fishermen immediately brought all three of them out. They were rushed to Nair Hospital, where doctors declared Vishweshwar and Kokate dead before admission. According to sources from the Disaster Management Cell, Sarvankar, a GST inspector, is currently undergoing treatment at a BMC hospital and is in stable condition.
The BMC had issued an advisory warning of high tides in the Arabian Sea from June 24 to 28, with waves expected to exceed 4.5 metres. On Saturday afternoon, waves were forecast to reach 4.64 metres, prompting increased vigilance along Mumbai’s beaches and coastline by the BMC and police. However, preventing people from entering the sea remains a major challenge for the police, lifeguards, and civic staff, a civic official said.
