Nagpur, Jul 10 (IANS): Eight youths, who had gone for a picnic to the picturesque Vena Lake near here, drowned when they fell off a boat while clicking selfies, police officials said on Monday.

The officials said two persons managed to swim to the shore.

Nagpur Guardian Minister Chandrashekar Bawankule, who visited the accident site said that the small boat carried 11 persons when the tragedy struck on Sunday evening.

"According to preliminary information available from the police, the youths were clicking selfies on their mobiles when the tragedy occurred," Bawankule told the media.

The police said that while clicking selfies, the youngsters were allegedly moving around, changing their positions and one was giving different poses, which may have caused the boat to rock and go off balance.

Two youths and the boatman managed to swim safely to the lake shore. Two bodies were recovered earlier on Monday morning and a search is on for the other victims.

The local police and National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), fire brigade and surrounding villagers are engaged in the rescue operations at the Vena Lake, a popular picnic spot around 23 km on the outskirts of Nagpur, officials said.