At least eight college students lost their lives after drowning at Wairi Beach in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district on Saturday. Local fishermen rescued three other students, one of whom is in a critical condition.
The students were on a college tour when the incident took place. They were part of a group of 50 students from Maratha Mandal Engineering College in Karnataka's Belgaum district. The students arrived in Sindhudurg in a private bus early Saturday morning and then went to Wairi Beach, located around 35 kms away from Sindhudurg.
Locals had warned them of strong currents but the students ignored the warning and ventured into the sea following which they were washed away into the deep waters. Eight of them, including two girls, drowned while three were rescued.
One of the students, who is critical, is undergoing treatment at Malvan Hospital, Sindhudurg police control official Ravindra Ghirkar told IANS. Senior police and district officials are at the scene of the incident.
"Fifty students went without permission. Going to the spot with ambulance," Dr V Udipi, principal of Maratha Mandal Engineering College, told ANI.
#FLASH Maharashtra: 8 students dead after drowning in Wairi beach in Sindhudurg district. The students were on a college tour. pic.twitter.com/9zFlTJgEFD
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 15, 2017