BALASORE: Two teenagers drowned trying to save their friend while they were taking a bath in Nalia river in Bhadrak district on Tuesday morning. A fourth teenager is fighting for life while another boy was discharged from hospital after preliminary treatment.
Sources said the incident happened when one of the five boys slipped and drowned. Two of his friends tried to rescue him, but met the same fate. The deceased were identified as Pranay Kumar Lenka and Smrutiranjan Swain (both 17) and Rajat Kumar Jena (16). While Pranay was from Haripur village, Smrutiranjan and Rajat belonged to Sridharpur. All three were Plus II students of Charampa College in Bhadrak district.
Pramod Lenka (17) is admitted to Bhadrak district headquarters hospital. The other person's identity could not be ascertained. Both are Plus II students of the same college.
Alerted by the boys' screams, locals informed the rescue personnel. Inspector in-charge of Bhadrak rural police station, Amitav Das, said that a case has been registered in this connection and the bodies have been handed over to the respective family members after post-mortem.