Vasai: A 15-year-old boy, Ankit Gupta, went missing after being swept away by strong tidal currents while retrieving a football at Suruchi Beach in Vasai on Monday.

Ankit, a resident of Rashmi area in Naigaon, had gone to the beach with his friends on

Ganesh Chaturthi. While playing football, the ball fell into the sea and Ankit entered the water to retrieve it. He lost his balance amid high tide and strong currents and was swept away by the waves. Vasai police, firefighters and

Indian Coast Guard launched a joint search operation. Aerial searches are also being conducted using a Coast Guard helicopter.