A picnic at Diveagar beach turned tragic when 8 students from Pune drowned after being swept away.
A group of 48 people, comprising 25 boys, 17 girls and six teachers, had travelled to Diveagar for a picnic, according to a police official. Maharashtra ministers Bharat Gogawale and Aditi Tatkare were reported to have contacted the administration following the incident.
All eight bodies were eventually recovered, police said. Young students lay motionless on the shore as locals and rescuers desperately tried to bring them back to life. Some were seen administering CPR, while others frantically rubbed the children’s feet and tried every possible way to revive them. But the desperate efforts could not undo the tragedy. Eight students from a private coaching institute in Alandi, Pune, drowned after being swept away by strong currents at Diveagar beach. The beach falls under the jurisdiction of Dighi coastal police station. Search and rescue teams rushed to the beach after receiving an alert and recovered all eight bodies. The deceased were students of Classes XI and XII at Winners Academy, a private coaching institute in Alandi, Pune district. Police personnel and local authorities remained at the site to complete the necessary legal and administrative proceedings. She directed officials to ensure necessary rescue, relief and assistance measures and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased students.