Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal

Bantwal, Mar 17: Two youths drowned while bathing in the Netravati river at Kagekana in Jarkila of Barimar here on the evening of Thursday March 16.

Satish

The deceased have been identified as Satish (22) and Jagadish (23), residents of Budoli.

A group of five friends including Satish and Jagadish had come for Sadikukku Jatre here, and in the evening, while returning home, they decided to stop by Netravati river at Jarkila.

Only Satish and Jagadish stepped into the water, while the other three stood on the banks. While bathing, both the friends were pulled in by the currents and washed away.

The other three who were on the river bank started shouting for help and the locals who were nearby rushed to the spot. The locals went into the water and searched for the duo, but in vain.

Bantwal rural police and the fire service also rushed to the spot on receiving information and started a search operation. By 9.30 pm, the both the bodies were retrieved.

As news spread, hundreds of people gathered at the spot. The local swimmers too helped the fire personnel in looking for the bodies.

A case has been registered in Bantwal rural police station.