Bengaluru: Three children drowned in a well after the bike that they were riding on along with their father fell into an open well near Kenchappanakere in Yelahaka New Town on Saturday afternoon.

In his complaint, Thimmaraju (40), a scrap dealer in Yelahanka New Town, said he and his children were returning from the show around 1.30 p.m. on his motorcycle when he lost control and veered into the well. While he swam to safety, Gokarna (12), Venkatesha (10) and daughter Kavitha (8) drowned, he told the police.

The incident took place, when they were returning from Aero Indiashow. It’s learnt that Thimmaraju was taking a shortcut to Kenchappanakere through a mud road as the main Yelahanka Road was choked with traffic.

However, his wife Vangeshwari (35) claimed that there was an ongoing family dispute and Thimmaraju had killed their children. Thimmaraju told the police that he swam to safety, but could not save his children – Gokarna (13), Venkatesha (10) and daughter Kavitha (8). He said that he had taken them to the air show at the Yelahanka Airforce Station and was returning home around 1.30 pm when he fell into the well along with the children. He told the police that he could not see the open well.

“Thimmaraju claimed that he held onto the stone steps and saved himself, but the children died. Fire and emergency services were alerted and they recovered the bodies of his two sons. The search was still on to trace Kavitha’s body. The scooter too has been pulled out of the well,” the police said.

After the incident, Thimmaraju came straight to the police station and reported the incident, they said. Police questioned him till late on Saturday night, attempting to corroborate his version with material evidence from the scene of the accident. Yelahanka New Town police, who questioned him, ruled out any foul play, a senior officer said.