HASSAN: Three youths from Bengaluru drowned in the backwaters of the Hemavathi reservoir near the historic Shettihalli Church in Hassan district on Sunday, police said.The deceased were identified as Charan (20), Milan (23) and Manikantha (20), all residents of Bengaluru.According to police, a group of 10 youths had travelled to Dharmasthala and were returning to Bengaluru after offering prayers at the Shri Manjunatha Swamy Temple.They stopped near Shettihalli Church at Gorur in Hassan taluk, where some of them entered the reservoir backwaters for a swim.Preliminary inquiries revealed that the youths ventured into the water without knowing its depth and allegedly did not know how to swim, police said.As the three began to drown, their friends on the shore raised an alarm, but no immediate help was available as the area was relatively isolated, police added.On receiving information, personnel from the Gorur Police Station and Fire and Emergency Services rushed to the spot and launched a search operation with the help of swimmers. The bodies were later retrieved.A case has been registered at Gorur Police Station and further investigation is underway, police said.
