College picnic turns tragic as 13 students drown off Murud beach

Mumbai, Feb 1: Tragedy struck a group of picnicers, as 13 students from a Pune college today drowned off the popular Murud-Janjira beach in Maharashtra's Raigad district. The deceased comprise 10 boys and three girls, police said.

Altogether 18 students had gone to swim and five were rescued, a local revenue official said.
The students were part of an around 130-strong picnic group from Inamdar College in Pune. They had gone to Murud in three buses.

Help of Coast Guard and fishermen has been sought in the rescue operation, the official said.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard has launched search by an interceptor craft and a Chetak helicopter to help bolster rescue operations. A Sea King helicopter has also been pressed into service, a senior official said.