At least 13 college students have drowned after swimming in the sea in western India during a picnic.
Senior police official Raja Pawar said 10 women and three men were swept away after they entered the water in Murud, a beach town about 95 miles south of Mumbai.
More than 150 students and teachers from a college in the town of Pune had visited Murud for a picnic.
Assistant Inspector of Raigad police Arvind Patil told AFP: “A total of 155 students from Pune went to Murud main beach and some of them went swimming around 3.30 pm this afternoon.
“Thirteen students are dead due to drowning. The victims were all aged between 19 and 23.
The college’s principal P.A. Inamdar told India Today: “We are shocked by this tragedy.
“We are making all efforts to help the students and their families with the help of the local villagers and police.
“A team of our trustees has already left Pune for Raigad for rendering further assistance."
Mr Pawar said the students were warned by local residents not to go far out in the sea but ignored the advice.
The remaining students have returned to the college.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
