13 college students on school picnic drown in western India

The incident involved students from a college who were picnicking at the vacation resort Murud beach near Alibaug in Raigad district of the state on Monday.

The Coast Guard said around 15-18 students were washed into the sea.

The Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard deployed a Chetak helicopter and a speed boat besides police divers for the combined mega rescue operations.

He noted that six students who were rescued from the sea were receiving treatment at a local hospital, while the remaining students were safe and had been taken away from the beach. One SeaKing vessel has also bee included inthe search operations. “A team of our trustees has already left Pune for Raigad for rendering further assistance”, Inamdar said.

The picnickers were accompanied by around ten staff members including teachers, the college authorities said.

“A total of 155 students from Pune went to Murud main beach and some of them went swimming around 3.30 pm this afternoon”, he told AFP.

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.