<div>A college picnic to a coast of the Arabian Sea turned tragic today for a group of students from Pune as 14 of them drowned off the popular Murud-Janjira beach in adjoining Raigad district. The incident occurred when 18 students were swept into the sea when they went for a swim in the afternoon.<br /><br />The students, aged between 18 and 20, were undergoing BSC and BCA computer courses in Pune's Inamdar College. One student was still missing and search was on for him.<br /><br />Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted that "extremely saddened & shocked to know about the Murud incident where 14 students lost their lives."<div><br />"Instructed the Collector to take care of all students. He informed that 14 bodies recovered, saved lives of 5 girls & are being hospitalised," he said.<br /><br />The Chief Minister said the "coast guard has started rescue operation as 1 student is missing. There were 116 students, 8 teachers &3 staff members from Inamdar College, Pune."<br /><br />According to a Coast Guard spokesperson, 13 bodies were recovered while a few students are still untraced and the Coast Guard and Navy have launched operations to rescue some missing students.<br /><br />A defence official said in a statement here that of the 13 bodies, ten were those of male and three of female.<br /><br />The students were part of a group from Inamdar College in Pune who went to Murud in three buses for a picnic.<br /><br />"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.<br /><br />A defence official said in a statement that at least six students were taken to hospital. "As of now, 13 dead bodies (10 girls and 3 boys) have been recovered. 6 students were rescued or managed to reach the shore and were taken to hospital. 1 student is still missing," he said.<br /><br />The official said search along the coast is in progress for the missing boy named M Saife Ahmad. The Navy has deployed two interceptor craft for the search operations.<br /><br />P A Inamdar, Trustee of the Pune-based college, run by Maharashtra Cosmopolitan Education Society, alleged that the beach where the students went apparently had no life guard.<br /><br />A pall of gloom descended over the college following the tragedy. The picnickers were accompanied by around ten staff members including teachers, the college authorities said.<br /><br />Inamdar said the college has received names of the deceased but their parents would be informed only after confirming and establishing their identities by checking the respective rolls.<br /><br />A team of college officials has left for Murud to assist rescue work. A defence official said in a statement that information was received by Indian Coast Guard that 15-18 students were swept away into sea at Murud Beach at about 4:00 PM today.<br /><br />"Coast Guard initiated a search operations and Indian Navy provided assistance in search. Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao has also expressed grief over the tragedy.<br /><br />"I am deeply aggrieved and shocked to know about the drowning of 13 students from a college in Pune who had gone to the Murud beach in Raigad district for a picnic. My heart goes out to the near and dear ones of all students who lost their lives," the Governor said in a condolence message.</div></div>
<div>A college picnic to a coast of the Arabian Sea turned tragic today for a group of students from Pune as 14 of them drowned off the popular Murud-Janjira beach in adjoining Raigad district. The incident occurred when 18 students were swept into the sea when they went for a swim in the afternoon.<br /><br />The students, aged between 18 and 20, were undergoing BSC and BCA computer courses in Pune's Inamdar College. One student was still missing and search was on for him.<br /><br />Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted that "extremely saddened & shocked to know about the Murud incident where 14 students lost their lives."<div><br />"Instructed the Collector to take care of all students. He informed that 14 bodies recovered, saved lives of 5 girls & are being hospitalised," he said.<br /><br />The Chief Minister said the "coast guard has started rescue operation as 1 student is missing. There were 116 students, 8 teachers &3 staff members from Inamdar College, Pune."<br /><br />According to a Coast Guard spokesperson, 13 bodies were recovered while a few students are still untraced and the Coast Guard and Navy have launched operations to rescue some missing students.<br /><br />A defence official said in a statement here that of the 13 bodies, ten were those of male and three of female.<br /><br />The students were part of a group from Inamdar College in Pune who went to Murud in three buses for a picnic.<br /><br />"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.<br /><br />A defence official said in a statement that at least six students were taken to hospital. "As of now, 13 dead bodies (10 girls and 3 boys) have been recovered. 6 students were rescued or managed to reach the shore and were taken to hospital. 1 student is still missing," he said.<br /><br />The official said search along the coast is in progress for the missing boy named M Saife Ahmad. The Navy has deployed two interceptor craft for the search operations.<br /><br />P A Inamdar, Trustee of the Pune-based college, run by Maharashtra Cosmopolitan Education Society, alleged that the beach where the students went apparently had no life guard.<br /><br />A pall of gloom descended over the college following the tragedy. The picnickers were accompanied by around ten staff members including teachers, the college authorities said.<br /><br />Inamdar said the college has received names of the deceased but their parents would be informed only after confirming and establishing their identities by checking the respective rolls.<br /><br />A team of college officials has left for Murud to assist rescue work. A defence official said in a statement that information was received by Indian Coast Guard that 15-18 students were swept away into sea at Murud Beach at about 4:00 PM today.<br /><br />"Coast Guard initiated a search operations and Indian Navy provided assistance in search. Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao has also expressed grief over the tragedy.<br /><br />"I am deeply aggrieved and shocked to know about the drowning of 13 students from a college in Pune who had gone to the Murud beach in Raigad district for a picnic. My heart goes out to the near and dear ones of all students who lost their lives," the Governor said in a condolence message.</div></div>