The Maharashtra government has clamped a ban on schools and colleges taking students to picnics at dangerous places. The decision was taken in the wake of the tragedy at Murud beach in which 14 college students from Pune lost their lives, reports ABP News.

The government has banned picnics on beaches, hills, river banks etc.

The steps were taken on the suggestions of the state education department in view of the Murud tragedy.

The government has directed that schools or colleges taking students to excursion tours will have to secure permission from the government.

The teachers will be prosecuted in case of accidents on these picnics. The government has also directed the schools to allow the students to use mobile phones during such picnics.

Other guidelines include a quorum of one teacher to every 10 students. The teachers are also barred from smoking during picnic.

Fourteen college students -- part of a group of 130 on a picnic -- drowned in the Arabian Sea at Murud Beach in Raigad district, around 150 km Mumbai. The students were part of a group of more than 130 from Maharashtra Cosmopolitan Education Society's Abeda Inamdar College.