Will not bear responsibility, says college

BELAGAVI: The Maratha Mandal Engineering College said it does bear any responsibility for the deaths of its students and faculty member at Malvan beach as the spot was not on the internary of its study tour. “The team’s visit to beach was unofficial as it was not listed in the tour programme”, clarified the college management.

A senior faculty member of the college told Express that the study tour had only visits to two industries in Pune. As the industry cancelled the study tour, the students decided to visit Malvan on their way back.

“Neither the college nor the management is responsible for the tragedy as the programme was just to visit a major industry at Pune.

Two lecturers who had gone with the students did not inform the college  about the change in plans. College consoles death of its students. However (it) can’t bear the responsibility,” said the faculty member.

Families in shock 

The family members of Mahesh Kudachkar, a teacher at MMEC who died in Malvan were busy preparing for the marriage of his sister-in-law scheduled for Sunday.

He was eager to attend the function, but fate had its own plans, his family members said. 

“We have no words to explain the grief. The collage members and hostelites are in a state of shock. As it is holidays, not many students are in the college. But everyone started messaging and calling,” said a student of MMEC.