Eight students from Pune drowned at Diveagar beach in Raigad district on Thursday after being caught in strong sea currents.
The victims were Class XI and XII students of Winners Academy, a coaching institute in Alandi, Pune district, located about 170 km from the beach. They were part of a 48-member group that included 25 boys, 17 girls and six teachers.
According to police, the group reached the beach around 5.30 p.m. Eight of the students entered the water and were swept away by the current. Their bodies were recovered by evening and taken to the primary health centre at Borli, where doctors declared them dead.
The deceased have been identified as Tanmay Vahile, Sumit Ahire, Pranav Bansode, Kaivalya Wasankar, Rajveer Vahile, Yash Wankhede, Soham Bhandwalkar and Kaustubh Daund.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the incident as heart-wrenching and said the local administration was coordinating arrangements to bring the bodies back to Alandi.
Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan ordered an investigation into the safety measures taken for the trip. He noted that only two teachers were present with the 48 students and said it was necessary to examine whether adequate vigilance was exercised and how permission was granted for students who could not swim to enter the sea.
NCP(SP) leader Supriya Sule expressed her condolences and urged tourists visiting coastal areas to exercise caution when entering the water.
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