Two Engineering Students Found Dead in Water Body in Vasai: Foul Play Suspected

Mumbai, November 19, 2024: In a tragic incident, two engineering students were found dead in a water body near Vasai between Friday and Saturday. The police are investigating the case, considering a possible drowning, although they are awaiting post-mortem reports to rule out any suspicion of foul play.

The deceased, Pawan Bodke (19) from Kurla and Tushar Bengude (21) from Nalasopara, were third-year electrical engineering students at a college in Vile Parle. On Friday, Bodke visited Bengude at his residence in Nalasopara, and the two decided to go for a motorcycle ride. However, they did not inform Bengude’s family about their whereabouts.

As evening approached and the two students failed to return home, Bengude’s father, Chandrakant, attempted to contact them, but both their cellphones were switched off. Concerned for their safety, Bengude’s family reached out to their friends but had no leads on their location.

The situation took a serious turn when the family traced Bengude’s last known location to Bhalivali village, Vasai (East), about 20 km away from their home. The motorcycle was found parked on a road in the area, and local villagers directed the family to a water body situated about a kilometre inside a forested area.

Upon reaching the location, villagers were able to retrieve Bodke’s body from the water on Friday. However, the search for Bengude was called off due to darkness. The police were alerted on Saturday, and a search resumed the next day. Bengude’s body was found the following day.

Authorities have noted that both students were not capable swimmers, and the absence of their belongings—such as clothes and personal items—at the site has raised questions. Family members confirmed that neither of the students could swim, which raises the possibility that they may have miscalculated the conditions when they entered the water.

The water body in question is not a popular spot for locals, and villagers have reported that similar drowning incidents have not been recorded in the past. The police have registered an accidental death case, and an investigation is underway.

Sources say that Bengude, known for his love of motorcycles, may have visited the location before and could have brought Bodke along to explore. It is believed that the motorcycle was parked at a distance due to the rough, narrow path leading to the water body.

The police are waiting for the post-mortem results to confirm the exact cause of death. Meanwhile, the families of the deceased students are in shock over the sudden and tragic loss of their loved ones.