Mumbai: Four school boys were washed away on Thursday evening in the low tide of the Arabian Sea at Thane districts Arnala beach, police said.

The boys were among six who had gone for a picnic at the beach near Virar, in adjacent Thane district, when the tragedy occurred around 4.30 p.m. The beach is about 40 km north of here.

Investigating officer P. N. Dasare said from the scene of the tragedy that the youngsters had gone for a swim in the ebbing waters of the Arabian Sea and were pulled into the sea by the strong currents.

The police along with villagers were attempting to trace the victims, who were residents of nearby Nalla Sopara suburb.

The victims, attending local schools, have been identified as Shivraj Shriram Yadav (15), Bunty Dube (16), Hitesh Shyam Sandhaich (14) and Deepak (15).

Two of their friends did not venture into the waters, Dasare said.

Source : DNA