Patna: In a tragic incident, three teenager friends drowned in a river in Bhojpur district on Sunday.
Police said the deceased have been identified as Ankush Mishra (16) from Piparpati village in Krishnagarh police station area, Shubham Singh (14) from Majhauwa village in Town police station area, and Atul Shukla (17) from Dev Nagar village in Mufassil police station area of the district.
CM Nitish Kumar expressed condolences to their families and announced ex gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh to the next kin of each deceased.
The incident occurred near the Majhauwa bridge in Town police station area when the three had gone for a jogging near the airport field locality. During the running, when one of them slipped and got his leg dirtiest in mud. He went to the nearby Majhauwa river to clean his leg, but unfortunately, he slipped into the river and started drowning. While saving him, his other two friends also fell into the river and drowned, police said.
“Ankush, along with his friends Shubham and Atul, had gone for the jogging near the airport field. Ankush got his feet soiled as he slipped while running. He went to the Majhauwa river to wash his feet during which felt and suddenly slipped into the river. To save him, Shubham and Atul also jumped into the river and they drowned. The local people informed the police, after which they were fished out, but unfortunately, they could not be saved,” said Bhojpur ASP, Parichay Kumar.
The ASP said that owing to soil erosion beside the river bank, large pits have been formed. “The water level of the river has also increased. Police are frequently visiting the nearby villages and urging people not to let their children go near the water,” he said.

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