JOIN USA 14-year-old boy drowned and his friend survived while swimming in Chikkabanavara lake in Soladevanahalli near Hesaraghatta on Wednesday.
The police said the deceased is Chandrashekar and his friend Ranjith has survived. Both were studying in class 8 at a government school in Shettyhalli and they were residing in Nagarahalli.
On Wednesday afternoon, they went for lunch and did not go back to school. They decided to go for a swim in Chikkabanavara lake. They found a coracle, which was left behind by a few fishermen, there. They took the coracle and started rowing. As they went into the middle of the lake, they lost balance and the coracle turned upside down. Chandrashekar started drowning while Ranjith managed to hold onto the coracle, the police said.
Passersby noticed Ranjith screaming for help and alerted the Soladevanahalli police. A local swimmer, rescued Ranjith and the Fire and Emergency Services Department personnel came to the spot and tried to retrieve the body, but in vain as it was getting dark. They again started searching for the body on Thursday and is still not found, the police added.
A case has been registered at the Soladevanahalli police station.