Prem, who lived with his family in the Deepdarshan area of Gokhivare in Vasai East, was a Class 10 student at G. J. Vartak Vidyalaya. On Saturday morning, after completing his Class 10 preliminary examination, he went swimming with five to six friends at a well located near Umbarwada on Manikpur Church Road.
While swimming, Prem reportedly misjudged the depth of the water and drowned. As soon as the incident came to light, local residents informed the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation fire brigade and the police. Following the information, police personnel and fire brigade teams rushed to the spot and launched a search operation to locate the missing student.
Nelson Lobo, a former corporator and eyewitness, said that children frequently visit the area to swim in the well. He added that despite being warned, they often ignore the instructions.
Meanwhile, concerns have also been raised over the lack of safety measures at the well. Safety nets had been installed around it during the municipal council's tenure but were subsequently removed. Corporator Prakash Rodrigues and local residents have demanded that the municipal corporation reinstall safety nets around the well without delay.
The incident has brought renewed attention to the safety concerns surrounding the well, where children reportedly continue to gather for swimming despite warnings from local residents.
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