Eight students from a coaching academy in Pune drowned while swimming at Diveagar beach in Maharashtra’s Raigad district on Thursday. Rescue teams recovered all eight bodies following a search operation, police said.

The students, all aged 16 and studying in Classes 11 and 12, were part of a 48-member group from Winners Academy in Alandi. The group included 25 boys, 17 girls and six teachers, and had travelled to Diveagar for a picnic.

According to police, eight students entered the sea and were swept away after failing to gauge the water’s depth and the strength of the current. The beach falls under the jurisdiction of Dighi coastal police.

Local residents, police personnel and rescue teams joined the search after receiving information about the incident. The bodies were later taken to the Primary Health Centre in Borli Panchatan for further procedures.

The deceased have been identified as Tanmay Dattatray Vahile, Sumit Bharat Ahire, Pranav Ramdas Bansode, Kaivalya Satish Wasankar, Rajveer Yuvraj Vahile, Yash Kiran Wankhede, Soham Tukaram Bhandvalkar and Kaustubh Sandeep Daund. All were residents of Alandi in Pune district.

Local water sports operator joins rescue effort

Bhau Maruti Salunkhe, who runs a water sports business in Diveagar, and his team joined the search soon after the incident. Local villagers also assisted police and rescue personnel in recovering the students.

Assistant Police Inspector Santosh Awati of Dighi Sagari Borli Panchatan Police Station reached the beach with a police team. The authorities have registered a case and begun an investigation into the incident.

The group had travelled around 170 km from Alandi to reach Diveagar beach. The beach is also approximately 170 km from Mumbai.