The yet to be identified bodies were recovered at 7 pm, according to the Malwani police. The boys must have entered the waters at around 12.30 pm, they further said.

Aksa beach has been declared a dangerous zone and swimming was prohibited by both the BMC and the naval establishment, INS Hamla.

The civic corporation had appointed two lifeguards to man the beach.However, visitors and nearby residents complained that the security staff were very irregular in attending to their work. ``They are present only on select days like the Ganesh immersion day and other festivals,'' they revealed.

Following the death of six persons within a week in November last year, Express Newsline had extensively reported on the dangers of the inadequately guarded seafront. The municipal authorities had then promised toincrease vigil and prevent untoward incidents.

Apart from the signboards warning frolickers not to venture out into the sea, the INS Hamla had put up a large hoarding at the entrance to the beach displaying a body count of those drowned during the year.