02 October,2026 05:10 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondent
Locals and parents of the students had last night gathered at the coaching centre. Pic/Special Arrangement
The Alandi Municipal Council in Maharashtra's Pune district sealed the premises of Winners Academy Coaching Classes on Friday, a day after eight of its students drowned during a picnic at Diveagar beach in Raigad district, reported the PTI.
The civic action was taken after officials found that the coaching institute was allegedly operating without the mandatory No-Objection Certificate (NOC) or licence required for running a commercial establishment, the news agency reported.
According to the PTI, the Alandi Municipal Council issued an order on Friday directing officials to seal the premises operated by Winners Academy.
According to the order, a verification of civic records found that the institute had not obtained the required permission from the municipal council to conduct business from the property.
The council said the establishment appeared to be operating without the necessary permission and directed officials to take action under the Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Townships Act, 1965 and other applicable laws, as per the PTI.
Officials were also directed to prepare a panchnama, take photographs of the premises and submit a report along with the relevant records.
The eight students were part of a 48-member group from Winners Academy that had travelled to Diveagar for a picnic on Thursday.
According to Raigad Police, the group comprised 25 boys, 17 girls and six teachers. At around 3 pm, some students entered the sea but apparently failed to judge the depth of the water and strong currents.
Teachers raised an alarm after the students were swept away. Workers from a local water sports club and fishermen then joined the rescue operation.
Police said the bodies of all eight students were recovered by around 5 pm.
The deceased, all aged 16, were identified as Rajveer Vahile, Soham Bhandwalkar, Kaustubh Daund, Yash Wankhede, Kaivalya Vasankar, Tanmay Vahile, Sumit Ahire and Pranav Bansode.
Their bodies were brought back to Alandi on Friday morning.
The deaths triggered shock and grief across the town, with residents gathering to pay their last respects to the students.
A bandh was observed in Alandi on Friday as residents mourned the deaths of the eight students, the news agency reported.
The tragedy has also led to questions over the operation of the coaching institute and the safety arrangements during the students' trip. Further action by the authorities is expected as the investigation continues.
(with PTI inputs)
