Eight Pune Teenagers Drown at Diveagar Beach in Raigad, Maharshtra During Coaching Academy Picnic

Eight Pune Teenagers Drown at Diveagar Beach in Raigad, Maharshtra During Coaching Academy Picnic

RAIGAD, October 1, 2026 [VoM News]: In a tragic incident, eight teenage students from Pune were drowned after being swept away by strong sea currents in Maharashtra.

As per details available with VoM News m, the unfortunate incident took place at Diveagar beach in Raigad district during a picnic organised by a private coaching centre.

Our correspondent from Maharashtra reported that all eight victims were 16 years old and were part of a group from Winners’ Academy in Alandi, Pune district.

The group had travelled about 170 kilometres to the popular coastal tourist destination.

As per police, 48 people including 25 boys, and 17 girls and six teachers had reached the beach for a picnic..

At around 5:30 pm, eight students entered the sea and were swept away after apparently misjudging the depth of the water and the strength of the currents.

A rescue operation was immediately launched by Bhau Salunkhe, who operates Mahakali Water Sports at Diveagar, and members of his team. The bodies of all eight students were subsequently recovered from the sea.

Assistant Police Inspector Santosh Awati of Dighi Sagari Borli Panchatan Police Station reached the site along with a police team after receiving information about the incident. With assistance from local residents, the bodies were taken to the Primary Health Centre at Borli Panchatan for post-mortem examinations and other legal formalities.

Police identified the deceased as Tanmay Dattatray Vahile, Sumit Bharat Ahire, Pranav Ramdas Bansode, Kaivalya Satish Wasankar, Rajveer Yuvraj Vahile, Yash Kiran Wankhede, Soham Tukaram Bhandwalkar and Kaustubh Sandeep Daund.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the deaths as “extremely tragic and heart-wrenching” and said the local administration was coordinating arrangements to transport the bodies to Alandi.

Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan ordered an inquiry into the incident and said accountability surrounding the coaching academy’s excursion would be examined. He also said the Maharashtra government would issue new safety guidelines for school trips following the tragedy.

Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances in which the students entered the sea, the safety arrangements in place during the excursion and the supervision provided to the group.