PONDA
A picnic to celebrate the completion of their academic year ended in tragedy for seven teenagers, when two of them were feared drowned in the river at Codar-Dharbandora on Monday afternoon.
According to reports, a group of four boys and three girls had gone to the river at about 2.30 pm when a 16-year-old girl from Deepnagar-Curti accidentally fell in the river.
A 17-year-old boy from Pisgal-Priol went to rescue her, but he too disappeared into the water.
On being informed of the incident, teams from the Ponda Police and Ponda fire station rushed to the site and began search operations, but were unable to locate the two missing youth till late Monday evening.
Search operations were reportedly called off on account of bad light. The river is also reported to be infested with crocodiles.
The five other youth were taken to the police outpost at Usgao and were questioned about the incident.
