Maharashtra: Four college students drown in Raigad dam during trekking trip

Four students drowned in a dam on the Dhawari river at Pokharwadi near Sondewadi village in Raigad district on Friday. The victims belonged to a trekking group from a Bandra-based college.

The deceased have been identified as Eklavya Umesh Singh, 18; Ishant Dinesh Yadav, 19; Akash Dharmadas Mane, 26; and Ranath Mahadu Banda, 18. According to the police, the students had arrived at the spot via bus, started climbing to the site of the Sondai hill fort at 10 am and descended at 1.30 pm. Later, the students swam in the dam. "Singh was the first to drown. Yadav, Mane and Banda ventured into the water to save him but they also lost their lives," said a police officer. The bodies were later recovered and brought to a rural hospital. Most of the students are said to be NCC cadets.

Some villagers and the other students who were part of the trekking group

"There were 37 students in total. After trekking in the morning, they went to the dam to swim. After one started screaming, three others went in to save him. As they also had not correctly estimated the depth of the water, they also drowned. Eventually, the victims were brought out of the water by the police, locals and a rescue team and brought to a rural hospital where they were declared dead. We have informed the families and will hand over the bodies. An accidental death report will be filed," said Milind Khopde, senior police inspector, Khalapur police station in Raigad.

37
No of students who were part of the trekking trip