Picnic turns into tragedy as 8 students drown off Diveagar beach in Maharashtra's Raigad
Eight students from a private coaching institute drowned while on a picnic at Diveagar beach in Maharashtra. Local authorities and political representatives have raised concerns regarding the lack of safety precautions at the beach.
Why it matters
The tragedy underscores the urgent need for better safety management and warning systems at popular tourist beaches in India.
Eight male students of a private coaching institute drowned in the Arabian Sea while on a picnic at the popular Diveagar beach in Maharashtra's Raigad district on Thursday (October 1, 2026), with the bodies of all the victims recovered, police said.
These students of Class XI and XII were part of a group from a private coaching institute based at Alandi in Pune district, they said.
Located around 170 km from Mumbai, Diveagar is famous for its beach and historic temples.
A police official said a group of 48 — 25 boys, 17 girls and six teachers — had gone for a picnic at the beach under the Dighi coastal police station limits.
Eight students ventured into the sea and were swept away after misjudging the depth of the water and current, he added.
Also covering this story
2 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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