Tide sweeps lovers away

A couple in their twenties were washed away during high tide from the rocks at Bandra Bandstand on Sunday afternoon.

Residents and police officials rescued two other couples sitting nearby, behind Hotel Sea Rock.

In the city where a square foot sells for as high as Rs 98,000, couples hard pressed for privacy in their tiny homes often create their little, cosy spaces on the seafront, throwing caution to the tide.

Kishore Ishwar Chandrashive (21), a Sakinaka resident, and Prachi (21), from Ghatkopar, had come to Bandstand to spend time with each other. The two went and sat on the rock strip behind the hotel joining two more couples — Rohini Nikam (23) and Ganesh More (23), and Nilesh Patane (22) and Swati Ware (22).

According to eyewitnesses and Bandra police officials, the water level started rising around 1.30 pm but by the time the couples realised it, water had already risen to their waists.

An eyewitness, Bhiru Khokre, said two couples managed to get to a higher place, while Kishore grabbed a rock and Prachi clung on to him.

“Two constables managed to pull out the two couples standing on the higher rocks with a rope but Kishore and Prachi had already been swept away. The fire engines were also called,” said Police Inspector Ashok Sawant.

Prachi was declared dead on arrival at the Bhabha Hospital. Kishore’s body was recovered at 5.30 pm.