Eight students of a private coaching institute drowned at Raigad's Diveagar Beach in Maharashtra while swimming during a class picnic. Residents and the administration launched a rescue operation soon after getting the information. The students had died by then.
According to information, a group of 48 students from Winners Academy for 11th & 12th, located in Pune's Alandi, had arrived at Dighi Sagari in Diveagar on a picnic trip.
The group included 25 boys, 17 girls and six institute teachers. The authorities said that the students entered the sea for swimming when eight of them were swept away. The students failed to accurately assess the depth of the water.
As panic gripped the beach, local rescue teams, Mahakali Water Sports staff, residents, and tourists present at the scene started rescue and relief efforts. All the bodies have been recovered.
ALSO READ: Maharashtra Crime: Sena (UBT) Leader Shot Dead Outside Party Office In Thane; Probe Underway
The police have identified the deceased students as Tanmay Dattatray Vahile, Pranav Ramdas Bansode, Sumit Bharat Ahire, Kaivalya Satish Wasankar, Yash Kiran Wankhede, Rajveer Yuvraj Vahile, Soham Tukaram Bhandvalkar and Kaustubh Sandeep Daund.
The officials said that police personnel and local authorities were present at the site to carry out further legal and administrative proceedings. As news of the accident spread, a large crowd gathered at the scene. All the bodies were sent to Borli Primary Health Centre.
Fadnavis expresses grief over deaths
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief over the loss of lives of the eight students and said the local administration was coordinating to bring all the bodies back.
ALSO READ: Jhansi Tragedy: 5 Family Members Drown While Performing Shraddh Rituals In UP River
In a post on X, Fadnavis said, "The incident of 8 students from Winners Academy, Alandi, drowning to death at the Dighi Port, Dive Agar beach in Raigad district, who had come for tourism, is extremely tragic and heart-wrenching. I pay my heartfelt tribute to them. We share in the grief of all these families. All these students are from Alandi, and the local administration is coordinating to bring their bodies to Alandi."