10 July,2011 06:48 AM IST | | Shailesh Bhatia
MV Wisdom may have left Mumbai's shores, but it has definitely brought some wisdom to those responsible for search and rescue operations off the city's coast.The 37 near fatalities and three deaths that occurred in the three weeks that the ship was aground on Juhu beach has meant that the life guards have been given two hi-tech Yamaha VX 700 jet skis.
The jet skis are also known as Wave Runners and cost over Rs 22 lakh each. According to Neville David, president of the Juhu Beach Lifeguard Association, "The jet skis have a high-powered, 2-stroke, 2-cylinder 701cc engine and it can reach speeds of over 40 knots, which is equivalent to a sports car at over 250kmph."
Bardugar Aziz Bablu, the BMC corporator from Juhu, who paid for the jet skis from his corporator funds, stated that the MV Wisdom incident was an eye opener. "I took the decision, after seeing the helplessness of the staff on duty. We also plan to give them eight life jackets," informed Bablu.
According to David, this is just the beginning, and they plan to acquire more jet skis and hi-tech equipment to patrol the entire western coast from the Gateway of India till Gorai and Madh islands. This region is notorious for its strong undercurrents, which have claimed many lives.
