Bharat and his wife had eagerly anticipated the arrival of their son, Sumit Ahire, for five years, viewing him as the fulfillment of their hopes and dreams. They had resolved to provide him with every possible opportunity in life.
A black belt in karate, a fitness enthusiast, and a diligent student preparing for the JEE, Sumit was on a path that his parents had carefully nurtured. His aspirations included achieving impressive grades, gaining admission to a reputable college, and leading a life that surpassed their expectations.
However, a recent trip to Diveagar tragically cut short his promising future, leaving the Ahire household enveloped in a profound silence. His mother is overwhelmed with grief, constantly shedding tears, while his father grapples with the overwhelming reality of a future without his son.
“This was his first trip, and he was filled with excitement. We provided him with all we could. He had ambitions and a future. Who do I turn to now? Who can bring my son back?” Bharat lamented.
For the Ahire family, the haunting questions persist: could more vigilant measures have prevented the loss of such a cherished life?
A group of students from Winners’ Academy in Alandi had embarked on a picnic to the well-known Diveagar beach in Raigad, comprising 25 boys and 17 girls, supervised by six teachers. By evening, eight students who ventured into the sea were tragically swept away and drowned. On Friday, their families conducted last rites for the boys, following post-mortem examinations that took place overnight.
Satish Wasankar stands outside his home in Alandi, observing the somber flow of neighbors and friends coming to pay their respects for his 16-year-old son, Kaivalya. “He was involved in various community activities, including Ganeshotsav celebrations at everyone’s homes. He had a maturity far beyond his years, often displaying qualities more akin to someone twice his age. Kaivalya was generous and maintained connections with all,” he shared. Kaivalya had even taken it upon himself to ensure his grandmother, who suffers from Parkinson’s, received her medications monthly.
Kaivalya aspired to study at the MIT Academy of Engineering in Alandi and eventually secure a job in Pune. His final rites were held in Alandi, as his family hails from Amravati, located 550 kilometers away. “It’s devastating to see my niece bring home her brother’s ashes. Kaivalya used to say that our family was whole. Now it’s just my wife and me. How can anyone escape fate?” he expressed.
The memories of Soham Bhandwalkar are now painfully split for his family, marked by two contrasting moments: a recent celebration of Ganeshotsav and the night they received his lifeless body.
Soham, a Class XI student with aspirations of pursuing engineering, was known for his kindness and willingness to help others. He excelled academically, enjoyed playing chess, and was always available to assist those in need. When he asked to join a day trip, there was no cause for concern. His father simply arranged for transportation to the designated meeting point for the students’ departure, expecting them to return that evening.
However, everything changed around 7 PM on October 1. “I received a call regarding Soham’s condition and we rushed to Raigad. I never anticipated bringing my child back in such a manner,” recalled Vithal Narayan Shinde, a close friend of Soham’s father.
The Bhandwalkar family is now too devastated to articulate their grief. For Shinde, the agony is compounded as he watches his best friend mourn the loss of his beloved son, who had also become dear to him.
Pranav Bansode’s family had been adamant about keeping him away from water due to his inability to swim. In fact, none of the deceased boys were swimmers. Pranav’s parents revealed they had not given their consent for the outing organized by Winners Academy, and his father had expressly instructed the teachers to ensure Pranav stayed out of the water. The family had been assured of the students’ safety.
Pranav’s sister and teachers remember him as a reserved, earnest, and courteous young man. The picnic was supposed to be a typical school outing. With a power outage at home, the family was unaware of the tragedy until they learned through social media about the drowning incident at Diveagar. Shortly after, a call from the school confirmed their worst fears, prompting them to rush to the scene.
His sister struggles to comprehend the loss of her brother. “We clearly communicated that Pranav couldn’t swim. We trusted them to look after him. Even now, I keep glancing at the door, expecting him to walk through,” she said, expressing the unbearable anticipation that remains unfulfilled.
Tanmay Vahile was not typically one for travel, being a quiet and studious boy who preferred staying close to home. Therefore, his decision to join the picnic was a notable event for his family.
The day before his departure, Tanmay asked his mother with unusual curiosity, “Mummy, have you ever been on a picnic? What is it like?” His eagerness was contagious, bringing excitement to a family accustomed to his more reserved nature.
The next morning, his father dropped him off at the meeting point and called during the trip to check on Tanmay, feeling relieved to hear that his son was enjoying himself. It was meant to be a day filled with new experiences for a boy embarking on his first picnic.
However, by evening, as his mother turned on the news, she was devastated to see reports of the tragic drowning at Diveagar. This was followed by the dreaded call from the school.
The family alleges that there was a lack of sufficient life jackets and inadequate supervision during the outing.
