Eight students lose their lives to drowning at Raigad beach

Eight students from Maharashtra’s Pune district drowned at Diveagar beach in Raigad district on Thursday (October 1, 2026) during a coaching institute picnic.

According to Raigad police, the 16-year-old students drowned after being caught in strong sea currents. The eight students were part of a group of 48 people, with 25 boys, 17 girls, and six teachers. All students were in Classes XI and XII and part of the coaching class Winners Academy in Alandi, Pune district, around 170 km from Diveagar.

“The group came to the beach around 5:30 p.m., eight of them got into the sea and were swept away with the current,” said a Raigad police official, adding that the bodies of all the deceased students were found by evening.

All eight students were rushed to the primary health centre at Borli for treatment, where the doctor declared them dead, as per the police. Six of the deseased students are identified as Tanmay Vahile, Sumit Ahire, Pranav Bansode, Kaivalya Wasankar, Rajveer Vahile, Yash Wankhede, Soham Bhandwalkar, and Kaustubh Daund.

Calling the incident “heart-wrenching”, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “The local administration is coordinating to bring their bodies to Alandi to their hometown.”

Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan has ordered to conduct an investigation into whether the necessary precautions were taken in planning and supervising the trip concerning students’ safety. “As per the information, only two teachers were present with the 48 students. It is necessary to investigate whether ample vigilance was exercised and also how permission was granted for students who could not swim to enter the sea,” said Mr. Mahajan.

NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule expressed her condolences, saying, “Tourists visiting the seashore for leisure are requested to please exercise caution when entering the sea.”