While the waters of the Arabian Sea near the beach at Murud disquietingly echo with reminders of Monday’s tragedy in which 14 >students from Pune’s Abeda Inamdar College tragically drowned , a heavy pall of grief hung over the college premises as the bodies arrived on Tuesday.
The somber occasion was marked by disbelief and despondency as grieving parents performed the final burial rites of the children.
“It is yet to sink in that they are no more,” said a disconsolate Mumta Ansari, father of the twins, Rafiya and Shafiya, both of whom lost their lives in the tragedy.
According to their neighbour Ashfaque Sheikh, Mr. Ansari who runs a well-know bakery in Shivajinagar, initially believed his daughters to be safe.
“The news has shattered him completely...both girls were very bright students,” said Mr. Shaikh.
Likewise, a shocked silence envelops the home of Madki Saif Ahmad at Kondhwe Khurd. Saif’s body was the last to be retrieved by the search teams on Tuesday morning.
“The family refuses to come to terms with the tragedy. He was alive and well a few hours before the mishap…and then he was no more,” said a neighbour, remarking that the grieving family was hoping against hope that the boy would still make it.
Anger, recrimination and confusion permeated the tense atmosphere at the Abeda Inamdar college campus on Monday night with fraught parents and relatives of the students angrily questioning the authorities on how the group could venture into the sea despite the presence of teachers.
Hysterical shrieks emanated from the distraught parents as soon as the list of the deceased was displayed on the campus.
“I am told my brother risked his life to save other students...he was enormously fond of cricket...he died a hero’s death,” said Parvez Shaikh, younger brother of Iftekar Shaikh, who died in the tragedy.
The tragedy has also spurred a furious debate as to who was responsible for the mishap. While heart-broken parents have accused college authorities of ‘negligence’ for failing to dissuade the students from entering the treacherous waters, the college authorities prefer to deflect the blame on lack of adequate security personnel at the beach.
“The tragedy might have been averted had there been enough lifeguards on the beach,” said P.A. Inamdar, President, of the Maharashtra Cosmopolitan Education Society which runs the college.
According to some locals, the students allegedly plunged into the waters recklessly, heedless of the risk and warnings.
“The left corner of the Murud beach is extremely unsafe for those unfamiliar with the area. The students turned a deaf ear to repeated warnings. Six persons from Mumbai had drowned in 2014 at the very same spot,” said Murud Ranjankar, a resident of the area.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the tragedy, the Deputy Director of Education has issued circular prohibiting similar picnics around risky places like beaches, rivers, forts.
“The unfortunate incident has compelled us to review picnics and tours bearing the safety of all students in mind. Hence, until further notice, we have come to the conclusion that no such tours shall be organised around any such places with a potential for disaster,” said Ramchandra Jadhav, Deputy Director of Education.
