14 students of a Pune college drowned after a strong current swept them away at Murud beach in Maharashtra's Raigad district today. Over 140 students of Pune's Inamdar College were on a picnic to the famous tourist spot. In pics



College prinicipal PA Inamdar has informed that the search operations have been called off. The bodies of the 14 drowned students have been recovered. The remaining students have returned to the college.

The principal informed that senior students, studying computer science, had gone on a college-sponsored annual picnic accompanied by five staff members and other support staff.

"We are shocked by this tragedy. We are making all efforts to help the students and their families with the help of the local villagers and police. A team of our trustees has already left Pune for Raigad for rendering further assistance," Inamdar said.

The Coast Guard launched a relief and rescue effort. Coast Guard's one interceptor craft CG 117 and one Chetak helicopter reached the spot to search for survivors.Indian Navy too pressed a Chetak helicopter and one Seaking aircraft for the rescue mission.

In June 2014, 24 students of a Hyderabad engineering college swept away in Beas river near Thalot village in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district.

The students of VNR Engineering College were on a tour to Himachal Pradesh and taking pictures on the banks of the river at Thalot when a large quantity of water discharged from Larji Hydro Power Project's reservoir caught them unawares.