Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Eight Pune Students Drown During Picnic At Diveagar Beach
Eight 16-year-old students from Pune went to Diveagar beach on a picnic.
They were studying in Classes 11 and 12 and attended coaching at Winners Academy.
The students entered the sea and were swept into deeper water.
Officials said they may not have understood how deep the water was or how strong the current could be.
Water-sports workers, police, local residents and other rescue teams searched for them.
All eight students were found dead.
Their bodies were taken for medical and legal examinations.
A local politician said the beach needed better safety arrangements.
A water-sports operator said the students had been warned not to enter a dangerous stretch, although that account was reported as an allegation.
Eight 16-year-old boys from Winners Academy in Alandi drowned after entering the sea at Diveagar beach.
The students were part of a 48-person picnic group comprising 25 boys, 17 girls and six teachers.
Police and officials said the students misjudged the water’s depth and current before being swept into deeper water.
Rescue teams, local residents and Mahakali Water Sports personnel recovered all eight bodies and sent them for post-mortem examinations.
Shiv Sena MLA Mahendra Dalvi criticized beach safety measures, while a water-sports operator said warnings about a rain-damaged stretch had allegedly been ignored.
- Who
- Eight 16-year-old male students from Winners Academy in Alandi, Pune, who were part of a group of 48 students and teachers.
- What
- The eight students drowned after entering the sea and being swept into deeper water.
- When
- Reports dated the incident as Thursday, October 1, 2026; one report described it as Wednesday evening, and accounts placed the drowning between about 4 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.
- Where
- Diveagar’s Dighi-Sagari beach, in Raigad district, Maharashtra, under Dighi coastal police station limits.
- Why
- Officials said the students misjudged the sea’s depth and current; a water-sports operator additionally alleged that they entered a rain-affected, dangerous stretch despite warnings.
Official Account
Safety-Criticism Account
How the drownings occurred
Official Account
Police and disaster-management officials said the students entered the sea, misjudged its depth and current, and were swept into deeper water.
Safety-Criticism Account
Bhau Salunkhe of Mahakali Water Sports said the students allegedly entered a rain-damaged stretch that had become hollow despite warnings not to go into the water.
Prevention and responsibility
Official Account
Authorities described a rescue and recovery effort involving police, disaster-management personnel, local residents and water-sports employees.
Safety-Criticism Account
Shiv Sena MLA Mahendra Dalvi said recurring incidents showed that the local administration needed stronger safety precautions, clearer warnings and better guidance for young visitors.
- Victims
- Eight male students, all aged 16
- Institute
- Winners Academy for 11th and 12th, Alandi
- Picnic group
- 48 people: 25 boys, 17 girls and six teachers
- Location
- Diveagar beach, Raigad district, Maharashtra
- Rescue outcome
- All eight bodies were recovered by approximately 6 p.m., according to one account
- Post-mortem
- The bodies were taken to the Sub-District Hospital in Shriwardhan
- Safety dispute
- Officials cited misjudged water conditions; Mahendra Dalvi criticized safety measures, while Bhau Salunkhe alleged that warnings were ignored
Sources
8 Students From Pune Drown At Diveagar Beach
Eight Pune students on picnic drown off Maha's Diveagar beach
Pune picnic turns into tragedy: 8 coaching students drown at Raigad’s Diveagar beach
Maharashtra: Eight students drown in Arabian Sea during picnic at Diveagar beach
Picnic turns into tragedy as 8 students drown off Diveagar beach in Maharashtra’s Raigad
