Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia

Sullia, Nov 24: Two students who went missing while swimming in Kumaradhara river here on the evening of Monday November 24 have been found dead.

The deceased have been identified as Stephen Raj, son of Ramamurthy, a resident of CRC Colony, Enekallu, and Jitesh, son of Ayyanna Gowda, a resident of Kukradka of Guttigaru. Their bodies were retrieved on Tuesday November 24.

Both were second year students of Subramanyeshwara Pre-University College, and aged 17.

Five students of the same college had for a swim in the river. Two of them, Stephen and Jitesh, went missing. The other three, who panicked, went home and did not inform anyone about the incident, sources said.

The parents of the missing boys grew worried when they did not return home from college, and started a search. They also filed missing complaints in Subramanya police station.

Meanwhile, a few Ayyappa devotees who went to the river noticed school bags and footwear lying on the banks and informed the locals. The parents of the boys also came to know about it and arrived at the spot.

It is said that as the water was too deep near Agrahara, it was difficult for the locals to seach in that part. The fire service was then called from Sullia, but even till late night, the bodies were not found.

On November 24, the search operation resumed, and at around noon, bodies of both the boys were retrieved.

Gram panchayat vice-president Dinesh B N, member Rajesh E S and others visited the spot.