Tragic Drowning Accident Claims Lives Of Two Fergusson College Students
Pune, October 21, 2024: In a tragic incident, two students from Fergusson College lost their lives while swimming at Khamboli reservoir during an outing with friends. The drowning occurred around 10:30 AM on Sunday in Khamboli village, situated approximately 40 kilometers from Pune City.
The victims, Ojas Anand Kathapurkar and Raj Sambhaji Patil, both 22 years old, were first-year MSc Electronics students. They had arrived at the reservoir with a group of nine college friends around 9:30 AM on their bikes.
Witnesses reported that the group entered the water, which was deeper than they anticipated. Shortly after, Kathapurkar and Patil began to struggle in an area known for its deep silt, and eventually, they submerged. Their friends raised the alarm, prompting locals and authorities to respond swiftly.
The Paud police station dispatched a rescue team from the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA). Fire Officer Vijay Mahajan confirmed that locals had already retrieved Kathapurkar’s body by the time rescuers arrived, and after a thorough search, Patil’s body was recovered approximately two hours later.
The families of both students were promptly notified of the incident, and an investigation is underway.