Tragedy in Chennai: Maharashtra IT Intern Dies, Another Missing at Golden Beach
A beach outing turned tragic in Chennai on Saturday, February 21, 2026, after three interns from Maharashtra, working with IT services firm Cognizant, were swept away by waves at Golden Beach while reportedly taking selfies. One of the interns, 22-year-old Mayuri Harishchandra Chaudhary, died; another, 24-year-old Jai Patil, remains missing; and the third, Raj Kedari, was rescued.
Mayuri Chaudhary was a resident of Varthi village in Mohadi taluka of Bhandara district. Jai Patil is from Jamner in Jalgaon district and Raj Kedari hails from Pune. Search efforts for Patil are ongoing, with officials from Jalgaon’s Disaster Management department involved.
Kedari, who is currently undergoing treatment in Chennai and is reported to be stable, recounted the harrowing experience. “It was high tide, and a huge wave suddenly pulled us in. I was standing farthest from the shore and after the sudden high wave, all three of us started drowning. While swimming back to the shore, I managed to pull Mayuri out but could not find Jai,” he told The Indian Express.
The three were part of a larger group of 26 students on a beach outing. According to reports, the incident occurred when waves measuring nearly 10 to 15 feet surged unexpectedly. The students were trainee software engineers interning at Cognizant’s Siruseri campus. Fifteen of the interns were from Maharashtra.
Following the incident, personnel from the Kanathur police station launched an immediate search and rescue operation. Mayuri Chaudhary was transported to Injambakkam Government Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Kedari, who completed his computer engineering degree from Modern College, Pune, in 2025, had formed a friendship with Chaudhary and Patil after arriving in Chennai in early February.
The search for Jai Patil is being conducted by the Kovalam and Marina Fire and Rescue Teams, utilizing fibre boats and drone cameras. Local fishermen have also been alerted and are assisting in the operation. Authorities have instructed all nearby coastal police stations to report any findings.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has spoken with the Tamil Nadu government and is monitoring the rescue efforts, according to a statement from his office. He expressed condolences to Chaudhary’s family and urged authorities in Tamil Nadu to expedite the search for Patil and provide all necessary assistance.
Family members of both Mayuri Chaudhary and Jai Patil have traveled to Chennai. The Bhandara district administration is coordinating with local authorities in Tamil Nadu to provide support to the affected families. Harishchandra Chaudhary, Mayuri’s father, stated that the administration is in constant contact with the family and that some of the students who were with Mayuri are also present in Chennai.
Mayuri’s brother, Aniket, described the shock of receiving the news. “We first heard about Mayuri from one of her friends. Later, it was confirmed by a police officer from Kanathur, Chennai. We could not accept it… it was shocking,” he said.
A post-mortem examination will be conducted on Mayuri Chaudhary after obtaining consent from her parents. The search for Jai Patil continues as authorities work to locate the missing intern.
