IT intern from Maharashtra drowns while taking selfie at Chennai’s Golden Beach; colleague missing

NAGPUR: Just 2 hours after speaking to her mother on the phone, a 23-year-old IT intern, Mayuri Chaudhari, from Bhandara district in eastern Maharashtra, drowned at Chennai's Golden Beach on Saturday after she was swept out to sea while attempting to click a selfie. Another intern, Jay Patil, from Jalgaon district in Maharashtra, is reportedly missing.

The bright young woman from Varthi village in Mohadi taluka, Bhandara district, called her home around 5 pm on Saturday. By approximately 7 pm, her family received the devastating news.


Upon learning of the tragedy, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis immediately contacted Tamil Nadu authorities, personally monitored the ongoing rescue and search operations, and urged the Tamil Nadu govt to expedite efforts to locate Jay Patil. The CM expressed profound sorrow over Mayuri's death, conveyed condolences to her family, and assured them of complete support from the state administration.

Mayuri's father, Harishchandra Chaudhari, works with a nationalised bank, while her elder brother, Shailendra, is employed in Nagpur. "After earning her MTech degree from a reputed college in Nanded, Mayuri was recently selected for an internship with IT major Cognizant in Chennai in February this year," her father, Harishchandra, said. He left for Chennai to receive her body.

Mayuri was part of a group of around 26 interns from Maharashtra working in Chennai. On their day off, the group headed to Golden Beach along Puducherry Road, within Kanthattur police station limits. Golden Beach is known for its unpredictable high waves and dangerous rip currents, with several similar drowning incidents recorded in the past.

While most stayed on the shore, 3 interns — Mayuri, Jay, and another intern, Raj Kedari — ventured close to the sea, reportedly to take photographs. They were hit by a massive 10-15-foot wave, which pulled them into the rough waters amid strong undercurrents.

Local rescue teams, including Tamil Nadu police, fire services, and Coast Guard personnel, immediately launched a rescue operation. Mayuri's body was recovered soon after, and she was confirmed dead at the scene.

Raj Kedari was pulled to safety and is reportedly stable, but Jay Patil remains missing, with intensive search efforts continuing along the coastline into the 2nd day. District officials in Bhandara are coordinating closely with Chennai authorities to assist the affected families.

Relatives of Mayuri and Jay Patil rushed to Chennai — Mayuri's family is travelling from Nagpur.