Bengaluru: Five youngsters, who were on a trip along with their friends, drowned in deep waters at Sangama in Kanakapura taluk in Ramanagara district on Monday.
Police officials identified the deceased as Varsha, 20, Neha, 19, Harshitha, 20, Tejas, 21, and Abhishek, 20. Apart from Abhishek, who was from Bihar, the rest hailed from different parts of Bengaluru, officials said.
“Varsha, Neha, Harshitha and Tejas were studying at colleges in Rajajinagar, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Chikkabanavara and Vijayanagar, respectively,” an official said, adding that Abhishek had recently completed his pre-university education.
According to an investigator, the five were part of a larger group of 12 who had arrived in two-wheelers at around noon at the confluence of Arkavathi and Kaveri.
“None of them knew swimming,” the officer said. “Despite warnings put up by the Forest Department, all the 12 entered the waters. The seven were safe, while the five, unaware of the depth, drowned. Their bodies have been recovered.”
The officer said that all 12 had studied at a Pre-University College (PUC) and that’s how they knew each other. “Their parents have been informed and the jurisdictional Sathanur police have initiated further procedure.”
The bodies of the deceased were handed over to their parents during the day after the completion of the autopsy at a hospital in Harohalli.