A Coast Guard helicopter can be seen during the search operations at Murud Janjira beach. (File photo)

In the wake of the Murud beach tragedy that claimed 14 lives, the Pune education department has banned educational tours to beaches, rivers, lakes and hills daysThe office of Deputy Director (Education) of the region today issued a circular in this regard. Also, no permission will be granted for such trips outside Maharashtra."In the wake of the tragic incident in Murud, we have issued a circular in which schools and junior colleges have been instructed not to take educational tours to risky and dangerous places like beaches, rivers, lakes and hills," the circular read."If tours are being organised, adequate teachers should be accompanying students," said Ramchandra Jadhav, Deputy Director (Education), Pune region, which comprises Pune, Ahmednagar and Solapur districts.Also, permission would not be granted for educational tours out of the state, he said, adding "consent letters from parents have been made a must".Schools and junior colleges undertaking excursion tours will have to submit an affidavit on stamp paper, Mr Jadhav said.The measures come days after 14 students of the city-based Abeda Inamdar College drowned off Murud beach in Raigad district during a picnic on Monday.