Virar: Two youths went missing after a group of four entered the rough sea at Arnala beach in Virar on Thursday morning, while two others were rescued by lifeguards.According to police, the four residents of Sakhar Mohalla, Navayat Nagar and Burhan Chowk in Nalasopara West had left their homes around 6 am to offer morning prayers. Later, at around 8 am, they rode to Arnala beach on a two-wheeler. Despite rough sea conditions, the group ventured into the water and was swept away by strong currents.Lifeguards deployed at the beach immediately launched a rescue operation and pulled out Mohammad Abdul Hasmuddin Shaikh (19) and Saad Akhtar Khan (16) to safety. However, Shoaib Khan (17) and Ayan Mondal (19) were swept away and remain missing.Police from Arnala, personnel of the Coast Guard, and teams from the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation’s fire brigade rushed to the spot and launched a search operation. However, the two youths could not be traced till Thursday evening.“The sea was extremely rough and the youths failed to gauge its depth and the strength of the currents,” said Kishor Patil, an officer at the civic body’s MHADA fire station. He added that the ongoing high tide was making the search operation difficult.Arnala beach is considered one of the most hazardous beaches in the region due to its strong currents and frequent drowning incidents. Swimming is prohibited, and warning signboards have been installed at several locations. As a precaution during the monsoon, police had already prohibited entry to several beaches and tourist spots across the Vasai region. Despite these restrictions, visitors continue to ignore safety advisories, leading to recurring tragedies.