Palghar: Two Boys Drown at Virar's Arnala Beach While Playing Football; Accidental Death Case Filed

Palghar: In an unexpected turn of events, two teenage boys lost their lives in drowning incident at Arnala beach in Virar. This incident occurred on Gudi Padwa March 19, 2026. Both the victims were 16-year-oldd had gone to the beach in the evening to play football. 

As per the Loksatta.com, boy identified as  Shlok Chindarkar and Manthan Dhotre, entered the sea to collect their ball. Strong tides and high waves reportedly caused the boys to lose control and drown. Arnala Marine Police responded to the incident and, with the help of lifeguards and residents, recovered the bodies. This tragedy follows similar incidents in Vasai-Virar.

Earlier a 14-year-old Class 8 student and son of a local rickshaw driver, Arnav Vinayak Patil, drowned in the Ram Mandir lake in Virar West's Bolinj area. His body was recovered after a three-hour search operation. Arnav and a group of friends reportedly entered the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) lake, which is closed to the public, for a swim. He misjudged the water's depth and drowned while the others reached safety.

Also Read: Maharashtra Student Drowns, Another Missing at Chennai’s Golden Beach

Following a three-hour search, rescue teams recovered Arnav's body from the lake. Senior Police Inspector Marshal Lopes, the Deputy Mayor of VVCMC, local municipal corporators, and administrative officers were present at the scene. The young boy's death has devastated the Patil family and brought sorrow to the Bolinj neighbourhood, as residents mourn the loss.