Three children drown in Bhadra

The dead, Swathi (8), Prashanth (7) and Shrishanth (5) belong to two fishermen families of Godhichatnahalli near Shimoga, which have been camping on the bank of the Bhadra backwaters, at Hagalumane in NR Pura taluk.

Swathi and Prashanth were first standard students at the Government Lower Primary School, Gulladamane.

A coracle ride

Apparently, the children had taken a ride in the coracle on their own, in the absence of their family members. The male members were away at work, and the women had gone to a shandy, leaving the colony deserted.

Family members of the children returned to find the children missing. Their concern turned into panic when they noticed that a damaged coracle lying on the river bank was missing.

After a search that lasted the entire night, the bodies of the children were recovered Sunday morning. Police have registered a case of unnatural death.