Lifeguards at Mumbai beaches: Saving lives and patrolling city`s perilous tides

Since 2019, a dedicated team of 20 trained lifeguards has been stationed at Juhu beach, consistently working to prevent drowning incidents. In just the past five days, they have rescued two individuals from the sea. Their efforts come as Mumbai and the surrounding areas are under a red alert declared by the BMC due to continuous heavy rainfall. On Monday, another man was rescued from drowning at Dadar beach.

Owing to the severe weather and high tides, the Santacruz and Juhu police have cordoned off Juhu beach and are restricting public access. Police personnel have also been making repeated announcements urging people to stay away from the beach for safety. These lifeguards are part of Drishti Lifeguard Services Pvt. Ltd. and work in shifts around the clock. All of them are trained fishermen deployed across key beach areas, including Juhu, Aksa, Gorai, Versova, Girgaon, and Dadar. According to officials, Juhu and Aksa see the highest number of drowning cases during the monsoon.

At Juhu alone, lifeguards operate in two shifts from 9 am to 11 pm, covering a six-kilometre stretch with 11 entry and exit points. Watch points have been erected to help lifeguards monitor swimmers and spot anyone in danger.

Recent rescues

Last week, a 62-year-old man was saved from drowning at Juhu by lifeguard Jignesh Mhatre. A skilled swimmer and fisherman, Mhatre noticed unusual undercurrents and spotted the man struggling in the water. He immediately dove in with a float tube and brought him to safety. In a separate incident the same week, lifeguards Vishal Mangela and Jignesh Bhanji rescued a 37-year-old man who had been dragged under by a sudden wave despite being a good swimmer. They acted swiftly, using a surfboard and float tube to pull him out.

On Friday, two lifeguards also intervened at Dadar, rescuing a man who attempted to end his life by entering the sea. On May 7, two minor children from Mumbra visiting Juhu beach with their parents were saved by lifeguards after they ventured into the water.

On the Job

Speaking to mid-day, one of the lifeguards at Juhu beach said, “We are trained for a month, and since we are fishermen, we have a deep understanding of the sea and its currents. We use surfboards, float tubes, and life jackets to save lives. Thousands of people visit Juhu beach every day, and it’s a challenge to manage them. We’ve set up watchtowers to monitor whether someone is swimming or drowning. Underwater currents often pull people in, and we can detect them by observing wave patterns. We use whistles to warn people not to go too deep. The months of June to September are the most crucial, as most incidents occur during this period. We’re committed to saving lives. People thank us when we help them, and we have no fear of entering the sea. We are fully trained.”

Lifeguards Bhavik Padhare, Hitesh Bait, and Jigesh Bhoir, also stationed at Juhu, added, “There are 20 of us at Juhu, and we’re working to rescue people and stop them from venturing into dangerous deep waters. We can identify undercurrents, and we use surfboards, life jackets, and float tubes to save lives. The watchtowers help us spot people who are in trouble. During high tide, with the help of police, we prevent anyone from entering the water.”

Speaking with mid-day, the Chief Fire Officer of the Mumbai Fire Brigade, Ravindra Ambulgekar, said "On May 26, due to heavy rain, we received continuous distress calls. Our entire team was deployed across the city, and our lifeguards were stationed at all the beaches. In many places, trees fell, there was waterlogging. We managed the situations effectively."