2 Indians drown at Phuket beach after ignoring no swimming warning

Dr Sagar Jugtawat

Two Indian tourists drowned after reportedly ignoring red flags and no swimming warnings that pounded Karon Beach in Mueang Phuket, Thailand on Tuesday, August 1.

The emergency personnel were informed of the occurrence on Tuesday, August 1 around 6:45 pm. The men who drowned were identified as Dr Sagar Jugtawat - son of Dr OP Jugtawat, Chief Medical Health Officer, Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh - and Harshit Verma.

Sagar had gone to Thailand four days back with his younger brother Mayur Jugtawat and his friends Rubal Rathod, Atharva Rathore, and Harshit Verma. In addition, he was accompanied by three other friends. 

Sagar, Harshit and Rubal had gone for a swim at a short distance from the Phuket picnic spot. Suddenly, all three got trapped in the strong current of water. However, Rubal Rathore came out with the flow of water, due to which his life was saved. The remaining two Sagar and Harshit were trapped for 15 minutes. After coming out of the water, it was found that both had died.

It is being said that on August 3, the five friends had their return tickets to India. However, it may now take around four days to bring the bodies of both the deceased back to their hometown.

Harshit Verma

According to Thailand's website, two Indian tourists drowned at Karon Beach, Muang Phuket. It stated that swimming was not allowed along the beach. Despite this, on the evening of Tuesday, August 1, at 6:45 am, two male Indian tourists who had gone for a swim at Karon Beach drowned in the sea. 

The two were pulled from the beach by lifeguards. Both had no pulse and were taken to nearby hospitals where they were later declared brought dead. Kairon Police were told by unidentified Indian friends of the two deceased that they were a total of eight people who had gone to visit the area. 

While four of them stayed away from the water, the remaining four went for swimming in the sea despite adequate warnings. Strong waves pulled all four into the sea. Two were carried back to the beach by lifeguards while the other two lost their lives.

- Reported by Satya Vijay Singh