Death toll of students in Indian beach tragedy rises to 14

The death toll of college students in a beach tragedy in India has risen to 14, officials said Tuesday.

The students on a picnic spree drowned in the Arabian Sea on Monday after being swept away by tides at Murud beach in Raigad district of Maharastra state, about 145 km south of Mumbai city.

"Extremely saddened and shocked to know about the Murud incident where 14 students lost their lives. My deepest condolences to the families," Maharastra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated.

According to Fadnavis, 14 bodies were recovered and five girls rescued from the sea have been hospitalized as search for one missing student was under way.

Authorities used helicopters and rescue boats of Indian navy and coast guard to search bodies and rescue the survivors.

The students, part of a group of more than 100 people including teachers from Abeda Inamdar College - an arts, science and commerce institute in Pune, had gone to the picturesque Murud beach for a picnic.

P A Inamdar, a trustee at the college told media that students might have ignored the warnings of teachers and other staff accompanying them.

"They were on picnic and must have gone into the sea against the advice of the teachers," Inamdar told media. "The students usually turn adventurous but the presence of lifeguards on the beach could have helped avert the tragedy."

The victims aged between 19 and 23 have been identified as 10 girls and four boys.

Police officials said the local authorities have put up warning signboards along the beach in the wake of the previous drownings, however people mostly ignore and disregard the instructions.

In 2014, 24 students were washed away by a sudden surge of river water in northern India state of Himichal Pradesh.

The students had stopped to take photographs on the edge of the Beas river when water released from an upstream dam washed them away. Endit