Urvashi Seth for Mid Day
 
Mumbai, Feb 26: Two Standard V students drowned off Marve Beach on Sunday February 25. However, three of their friends were rescued by local fishermen. The incident occurred around 4 pm.

All the children are students of Ramzan Ali Sheikh English School in Malad. While Pallavi and Noorjaha’s bodies have not been found yet, witnesses said they saw the two go underwater. Shaliya Sheikh, Kunal Mani Shaning and Naina Das were the lucky ones to come back alive.

Kusum Mani Shaning, mother of Kunal and Naina’s aunt, said: “On Saturday, my children said they wanted to go to the beach, but I didn’t let them. This morning, around 8, they left the house without informing anyone in the house.”

“I was going to lodge a complaint as the children were missing since morning. Then someone informed me about them and I saw an unconscious Naina,” Kusum added.

Sayyed Munir (53), Noorjaha’s father, said the children told him they were taking her to a birthday party.

A scared Shaliya Sheikh said she thought that her friends were playing a prank when they were actually crying for help as they drowned. “They had played a similar prank earlier.”

“The local fishermen could only rescue three children. The BMC, fire brigade and the Navy are helping us find the missing children. We are yet to find their bodies,” said Chandrashekhar Kadam, sub-inspector, Malwani police station.