Pune Student Drowns at Kashid Beach, Body Found After 43-Hour Massive Rescue Operation
Pune Student Drowns at Kashid Beach, Body Found After 43-Hour Massive Rescue Operation
A weekend trip to the beach turned tragic for a group of college students from Pune when one of them, 20-year-old Tanishk Malhotra, drowned while swimming in the rough waters of Kashid beach on July 1. His body was recovered after a grueling 43-hour-long search mission that involved advanced technology and multi-agency coordination.
Tanishk, a final-year undergraduate student, had traveled to the popular coastal destination with three of his college friends — Mark Milton, Varun Tiwari, and Punya Patil — for a short getaway. What started as a joyful outing quickly turned into a nightmare.
20-Year-Old Pune Boy Drowns At Kashid Beach; Body Recovered After 43-Hour Search Operation pic.twitter.com/uR0RtzLTiM
— Pune First (@Pune_First) July 3, 2025
The group had entered the sea for a swim, unaware of the strong undercurrents and unpredictable wave patterns common to the region. While his friends managed to struggle their way back to shore, Tanishk was swept away by powerful currents. Eyewitnesses say he was pulled under the water and disappeared before help could arrive.
Emergency services sprang into action immediately. The Murud Police, Indian Coast Guard, local lifeguards, and dedicated SVRSS volunteers launched a high-intensity search operation that spanned nearly two days. Despite turbulent sea conditions and poor visibility, the rescue teams persisted.
On the third morning — Thursday around 7:45 AM — hope finally turned to heartbreak as Tanishk’s body was located and brought back to shore. Authorities utilized thermal imaging drones and aerial support from a helicopter in the final stages of the search. The body was transported to Murud Rural Hospital for postmortem and official procedures.
A Murud Police Station official, reflecting on the incident, expressed regret: “This is a deeply unfortunate and preventable loss. More than 150 individuals have lost their lives along the Murud-Kashid stretch in recent years, mostly due to underestimating sea conditions or ignoring safety measures.”
