Private lifeguards keep Wisdom watchers at bay

Mumbai: The big boat at Juhu beach is almost costing people their lives. MV Wisdom, which sailed from the high seas and landed off Juhu beach on June 11, has attracted a swarm of curious people, but not without a few hitches.

As the more enthusiastic have started swimming all the way up to the vessel in the deep sea to take a look at it up close, incidents of drowning have increased.

What with the four youths rescued from the water on Sunday, a Supreme Court lawyer who ventured near the cargo ship and almost drowned on Tuesday, and several such episodes, the lifeguards are having busy workdays.

They dive into the sea to save the curious cats. However, these guards, who risk their lives to save others, are not deployed by the BMC. They work under the banner Juhu Beach Lifeguards Association.

With nearly 300 members, the group comprises of people working in hotels, at construction sites, tea and snack stalls at the beaches, and the like.

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And they have been stretching their muscles more than usual for the last 15 days, thanks to the merchant vessel. Until now, they have saved nearly three dozen.

And they do it gratis, without expecting a penny from the government or those they save.

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Neville David, the association's chairman, who'd visit Juhu beach regularly as a child, said the absence of lifeguards always bothered him. "I decided I would form a group of lifeguards to save people from drowning.

"The guards work in shifts, as per their work schedule. But everyone gives four hours a day and no one charges anything for it," said David. The association has been sending its lifeguards at various beaches since its existence in 1994.

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Harish Tiwari, who works with a builder, spends more than five hours at the beach everyday as a lifeguard. "I have to reach office at 4 pm.

So between seven in the morning and three in the afternoon, I am at the beach," he said. For something that doesn't pay, Tiwari takes his work quite seriously. "The blessings of people we save are the reward. Since Wisdom parked itself off the beach, almost 20-25 people from our organisation are on guard here."

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And what about the lifeguards on the BMC's payroll? "Most of them have been told by civic officials not to enter deep into the sea.They face restrictions," Tiwari said.

Added David, "Our men go inside the water fearlessly as they are trained by experts. Thanks to us, the work of the BMC lifeguards has been curtailed to informing seniors about accidents."

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A senior fire brigade officer  said, "As with fishermen, there are warnings for lifeguards not to enter the sea during high tide."

At present, there are 33 BMC lifeguards. The 21 contracted labourers are paid Rs 6,000 monthly, and the permanent employees may make up to Rs 20,000 a month.

Also, there are 165 fire officers who work during monsoons and are part of the Flood Rescue Team.