2 students feared drowned in Bhakra Canal in Patiala

Patiala, August 11 

Two school students were feared drowned in the Bhakra Canal on Saturday evening as their friends were busy shooting their diving videos.

Divers pressed into action by the police have failed to locate the two boys, who are now feared dead in the flowing canal.

According to the police, the boys have been identified as Sahil (17) and Karan (14), who had gone to the Nabha Road Bhakra Canal along with two other friends.

“They were bathing and diving into the canal while two of their friends were shooting reels for social media. As the boys jumped, they were washed away by the water current. A video, shot by their friends, is also doing rounds,” said an official.

Civil Lines SHO Amritveer Singh said that local divers were pressed into action to trace the missing boys. “However, it has been over 24 hours and the water flow has also increased due to heavy rains, making it tough for the divers to locate the bodies,” he said.

The district administration had recently issued orders under Section 144 of the CrPC, banning residents from bathing and swimming in canals. Despite the ban, youngsters continue to dive and click photos at the Bhakra Canal Bridge on the Patiala-Sangrur and Nabha roads.