Bhind (MP)/Jalaun (UP), Jun 19 (IANS) In a tragic incident, three young men drowned while bathing in the Pahuj River near Gopalpura village in UP’s Jalaun district on Friday, officials said.

The victims were part of a group of over a dozen youths from Lidhaura and Atiyanpura villages in the Mihona police station area of Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind district who had travelled to attend a wedding ceremony.

According to police officials, the group, seeking relief from the scorching summer heat, decided to take a dip in the river. While bathing, some of the youths ventured into a deeper part of the river where the current was strong.

Unaware of the sudden sharp drop in the riverbed depth, three of them were swept away by the forceful waters and began drowning. Their companions made desperate attempts to rescue them, but the strong currents made it impossible.

Panic spread as the gravity of the situation became clear. Local residents immediately informed the police. Teams from Madhogarh police station rushed to the spot and launched a swift search operation with the help of local divers and villagers.

After a prolonged and challenging effort, the bodies of the three youths, identified as Jagmohan Baghel, 19, Sudeep Baghel, 17, and Avneebh Yadav, 20, were recovered from the river.

The police have taken custody of the bodies and sent them for post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.

The joyous atmosphere at the wedding venue turned into one of profound grief as soon as the news reached the families.

Eyewitnesses described how the river appears deceptively shallow near the banks but drops sharply into dangerous depths, a factor believed to have contributed to the tragedy. The police are investigating the incident from all angles, including whether any negligence or lack of awareness about the river’s conditions played a role. They have appealed to the public to exercise caution while venturing into rivers, especially during the summer months when water levels and currents can be unpredictable.

–IANS

sktr/vd