Pics: Deadly Picnic! 13 Pune students drown in sea near Raigad, search operations underway

Pune, Feb 2: Total 155 students from Pune's Inamdar College went to Murud main beach near Raigad, Maharashtra on Monday, Feb 1. The students had gone for a picnic but they did not know that the picnic would turn into a nightmare.

An accident occurred around 4:30 pm when a few students had gone into the sea for swimming. 13 bodies were recovered on Monday and death toll is likely to rise as 10-12 students are still missing.

[Murud Beach tragedy: Missing student's body fished out after 18 hours]

Locals along with police and coast guards continue the search operations on Tuesday, Feb 2. According to sources, the Coast Guard has launched search by an interceptor craft and a Chetak helicopter to help bolster rescue operations.

Speaking about the accident, a spokesperson of the coast guard was quoted as saying, "We received information regarding 15 to 18 students being washed into the sea at about 4 pm. Coast Guard aircraft IC117 and two hired fishing boats were deployed for search and rescue. So far, Coast Guard chopper ex-842SGN was launched at 6:03 PM and ICGS 'Achook' has been diverted."

The victims, students studying computer science, were all aged between 19 and 23. It was a college-sponsored annual picnic. The students were accompanied by five staff members and other support staff.

Trustee of the Inamdar College was quoted as saying, "We are shocked by this tragedy. We are making all efforts to help the students and their families with the help of the local villagers and police. A team of our trustees has already left Pune for Raigad for rendering further assistance."

See pictures of the accident site:

Location of the Murud Janjira beach in Raigad

Students from Pune's Inamdar college drowned in the sea near Murud's Janjira beach in Raigad district, Maharashtra.

The accident took place on Monday, Feb 1.

One of the students rescued from drowning

One of the college students rescued from drowning off the Murud-Janjira beach being treated at a hospital in Murud on Monday. Thirteen students, including three girls, from a Pune college were feared drowned at beach.

Relatives gather outside Pune college

Relative gathered at Pune college after Thirteen students, including three girls were feared drowned at Murud Janjira beach near Alibaug in Raigad district on Monday, Feb 1.

Murud Beach: Search operations underway

The Coast Guard has launched search by an interceptor craft and a Chetak helicopter to help bolster rescue operations.

OneIndia News