A 17-year-old boy who was picnicking with his college friends in Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) allegedly drowned after jumping into Tulsi Lake on Wednesday afternoon. His body is yet to be traced even after Mulund police combed the area. The navy will carry out a search this morning.
Mandar Patkar, a second year diploma student from VJTI college and resident of Bhandup (East), had gone to SGNP with his class of 42. "All of them entered the lake for a dip. Patkar saw a wooden plank floating in the lake, which he tried to climb. Suddenly, his friends saw him slip and fall into the water. He was not seen after that. He could not swim," said Phul Singh Pawar, senior police inspector of Mulund police station.
Police were alerted about the incident only at 5.30 pm, almost two hours after Patkar fell in the water, since there was no mobile phone network in the area.
"His friends tried to make a rope out of clothes to pull him out, but he could not be found. They shouted his name many times but got no response. We suspect that he might have hit a rock in the lake," a police official said. The search operation was called off at around 9 pm after the fire brigade failed to trace the boy due to lack of light.
Forest officials clarified that the area where the Patkar and his friends were picnicking came under the forest department and it was illegal to go there without proper permission. "They trespassed into forest area, which is illegal," said a forest official.
By evening, police had to call off the search. "We had to call off the operation since the police advised us not to stay at the lake after dark. Panthers roam the area and the lake is full of crocodiles," said a divisional fire officer. When contacted, OG Kakade, principal, VJTI, said, "It was not an official picnic. We are not aware of the incident. We do not permit such excursions."
Mandar Patkar, a second year diploma student from VJTI college and resident of Bhandup (East), had gone to SGNP with his class of 42. "All of them entered the lake for a dip. Patkar saw a wooden plank floating in the lake, which he tried to climb. Suddenly, his friends saw him slip and fall into the water. He was not seen after that. He could not swim," said Phul Singh Pawar, senior police inspector of Mulund police station.
Police were alerted about the incident only at 5.30 pm, almost two hours after Patkar fell in the water, since there was no mobile phone network in the area.
"His friends tried to make a rope out of clothes to pull him out, but he could not be found. They shouted his name many times but got no response. We suspect that he might have hit a rock in the lake," a police official said. The search operation was called off at around 9 pm after the fire brigade failed to trace the boy due to lack of light.
Forest officials clarified that the area where the Patkar and his friends were picnicking came under the forest department and it was illegal to go there without proper permission. "They trespassed into forest area, which is illegal," said a forest official.
By evening, police had to call off the search. "We had to call off the operation since the police advised us not to stay at the lake after dark. Panthers roam the area and the lake is full of crocodiles," said a divisional fire officer. When contacted, OG Kakade, principal, VJTI, said, "It was not an official picnic. We are not aware of the incident. We do not permit such excursions."
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