Tragedy struck the Dhalabil area of Tripura's Khowai district on Sunday afternoon when two college students drowned while bathing with their friends in the Ichhalicherra water body.
The deceased have been identified as Mondip Paul (20), a resident of Deoliatila in Dhalabil, and Bhishma Das Chowdhury (20), a resident of Bankar in Khowai. Mondip was a first-year student of ICFAI University, while Bhishma was pursuing his first year at BBM College in Agartala.
According to sources, the two students, along with three other friends, had gone to the Ichhalicherra water body, a tributary of the Khowai River, for a bath. Most of the group reportedly did not know how to swim properly. During the outing, Mondip and Bhishma suddenly slipped into deep water and drowned.
Their friends made desperate attempts to rescue them but failed due to the depth of the water. They immediately raised an alarm, prompting local villagers to rush to the spot. After a brief search, the villagers recovered both youths from the water.
The victims were rushed to Khowai District Hospital with the assistance of Fire and Emergency Services personnel. However, the attending doctor declared both of them brought dead.
The tragic incident has left the families of the deceased and local residents in deep shock and mourning. Further details are awaited.