Kushalnagar: Three Pre-University students drowned when they went for a swim in River Cauvery at Madapatna near Kushalnagar in Kodagu district yesterday.

Police said that the deceased were identified as 20-year-old Akash, 19-year-old Gagan and 21-year-old Shashank. They were studying Commerce in Government Junior College, Madikeri and they had came to their friend’s house in Kushalnagar on the eve of Ramzan festival.

While Akash is the son of Ramesh of Ukkuda village, Gagan is son of Cheluvaraju from Mans Compound and Shashank is the son of Umesh from Mekeri.

Nine Commerce students of the College had been to their friend Mansoor’s house in Kushalnagar on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr yesterday. After the meal, they went to Mansoor’s aunt’s house at Madapatna. But Akash, Gagan and Shashank went on a bike to swim in Cauvery River.

The Police said the three went for a swim around 12 noon but were trapped in a swirl and drowned. The incident came to light when Mansoor and other friends who came by bus, visited the river. Police said that when Akash, who first went for a swim started drowning, the other two friends jumped into the water only to save him but all the three met a watery grave.

All the three bodies have been fished out and handed over the family members. Kushalnagar Police visited the spot and a case has been registered in this connection.