Five teenagers drown in Gandak river in Bihar's Begusarai, divers fish out one body

Among the five teenagers, three belonged to the neighbouring district of Munger and Madhepura. The deceased had come to a Begusarai village to attend the marriage ceremony of their cousin.

Begusarai: Five boys in the age group of 14 to 20 years drowned in Bihar's Gandak river in the Begusarai district of the state on Friday. Among the five teenagers, three belonged to the neighbouring district of Munger and Madhepura. They had come to a Begusarai village to attend the marriage of their sister.

Local divers and boatmen were searching for the bodies in the Gandak river. The body of one Chotu Kumar was fished out from the river. Efforts were on to trace the remaining four bodies. The village headman (mukhiya) said that altogether nine persons arrived on the banks of the Gandak river to take a bath. "All the nine persons were taking a bath in the river by grabbing each other's hands. Somehow, five persons lost grip and were swept away in the strong currents of the river whereas four others escaped from drowning."

According to villagers, the deceased have been identified as Chotu, Abhishek Kumar and Akash, whereas the identity of two others, who died was not known. Local divers and boatmen fished out the body of Chotu, while search was on for the remaining four.

The five boys had come to Bishanpur village in the Begusarai district of the state to attend their cousin's marriage. A pall of gloom descended on the family members where the marriage ceremony was supposed to take place on Friday. Villagers and relatives of the deceased are in a state of shock. The wedding ceremony was cancelled.