Pune Students’ Diveagar Beach Tragedy: Witness Recalls Moments When Eight Students Were Swept Away

Alandi, 3rd October 2026: What began as a joyful trip to Raigad and Diveagar turned tragic within minutes for students of Winners Academy in Alandi, as eight students drowned after being swept away by strong currents at Diveagar beach in Raigad district.

Recalling the incident, student Soham Govind Gore, who witnessed the tragedy, said the group reached the beach at around 4.30 pm. After changing their clothes, the students were instructed by a teacher, identified as Adak, to enter the sea only if they knew how to swim.
Around 15 to 16 students, along with the teacher, entered the water. Soham, however, decided to remain on the shore.

“The sea looked very muddy and dirty, so I decided not to enter the water. Some of us stayed on the shore and were playing near the waves, while some girls were standing at the edge of the water. Everything was normal initially,” Soham said.

However, within five to 10 minutes, the situation changed suddenly.
“Suddenly, we heard terrifying screams coming from the sea. We became frightened and ran towards the water. We saw some of our own friends being pulled deeper into the sea by the strong current,” he said.

According to Soham, five to six people immediately attempted to rescue the students struggling in the water.

“Those who could reach out tried their best to save their friends without caring about their own safety. But the waves and current were extremely strong. Within a few seconds, eight students disappeared from our sight. We were completely terrified,” he said.

The incident triggered panic on the beach. Local boat operators and water sports operators subsequently rushed into the sea to assist in the rescue operation.

“After some time, the bodies of all the missing students were found. Meanwhile, the police took us to a safe place,” Soham said.

The tragedy has also raised questions about safety arrangements at Diveagar beach. According to Soham, there were no prominent warning signs identifying dangerous stretches of the beach, and adequate emergency safety equipment was not available at the spot.

The incident has brought renewed attention to the risks posed by strong sea currents and the need for adequate safety arrangements at popular tourist beaches.