Bantwal: Two friends, in their early 20s, drowned in the Nethravathi river on Thursday near Barimaru village.

Sathish(22) and Jagadish(23) from Budoli are the deceased.

The incident occured when five friends who had arrived for Sadikukku Jatra Mahotsav went to the Netravathi river for bath on Thursday. Two of them entered the water while three stayed on the river bank. Meanwhile Sathish and Jagadish drowned in the river. When the trio screamed for help, locals rushed to rescue the duo, jumped into the river but failed to trace them.

Later Bantwal rural police rushed to the spot along with fire service. Finally the bodies were recovered at around 9.30 pm.