A 52-year-old man from Thane is feared to have drowned in the Mithbunder creek after mysteriously going missing earlier this week. Authorities launched a search operation after the man, identified as Datta Shinalkar, failed to return home and remained unreachable for nearly two days. CCTV footage later showed him walking towards the creek area, where officials discovered his footwear along the banks, raising strong suspicions of drowning. Disaster management teams and local fishermen carried out extensive search efforts before the operation was suspended late Friday night.
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According to officials from the Regional Disaster Management Cell, Datta Shinalkar, a resident of Kopri in Thane, left his home on Wednesday morning and did not make contact with his family afterward. Concerned relatives informed authorities on Thursday after repeated attempts to reach him failed. During the investigation, CCTV footage captured Shinalkar heading towards the Mithbunder creek around Wednesday noon. Search teams later found his footwear near the creek banks, intensifying fears that he may have entered the water. Disaster response personnel, along with local fishermen, conducted search operations across the creek area throughout Thursday and Friday.
However, despite continuous efforts, no trace of the missing man was found. Officials eventually suspended the operation late Friday night while maintaining that drowning remains the primary suspicion behind the disappearance.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns surrounding safety around isolated creek areas and the challenges faced during water search operations. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation while the family awaits further updates in the case.
