Despite a search operation for the second day today, police failed to locate the bodies of the college girl and youth, who were feared drowned in the sea at Bandra in the city yesterday.
The girl Tarannum Ansari (18), who had gone to Bandra with her two female friends, had slipped into the sea yesterday morning while taking a selfie. Hearing their screams, a local youth named Ramesh Walanju had jumped into the sea to rescue the girl.
"The duo is believed to have been swept away in the high tide," police said, adding, fire brigade officials, professional divers, two rescue boats of Mumbai Police and a helicopter of Indian Coast Guard had carried out a search operation till last night but could not locate their bodies.
"Even today, till evening the authorities concerned, including the city police, tried to locate the bodies, but could not find them," a police officer said.
In order to carry out the search operation, police had barred people from going to the spot near Bandra fort where the incident had occurred.
According to police, the incident had taken place at the time of high tide. A huge wave of water came above the rock near the sea on which the victim and her two friends were standing. Ansari slipped as the rock got slippery. Anjum and Masturi too lost their balance. Anjum was slipping but Masturi held her hand and started screaming for help.
Ramesh, who was on his way to work rushed towards them and jumped into the water, police said.
As per Masturi's statement to police, Ramesh saved her and Anjum from drowing. But when he learnt that another girl has fallen, he kept his tiffin and belongings on the rock and took a plunge.
Ramesh, a resident of Jaffer Baba colony a slum pocket behind Bandra fort, had went in deep sea, but had failed to locate Tarannum. Thereafter, he tried to swim back to the rock, but drowned in the process, police said.
