Kundapur:  A teenage boy drowned while playing near the pond at Veereshwar temple in Gangolli of Gangolli taluk.

 The deceased was identified as Sarfaraz (14).

As per the sources, Sarfaraz was playing with his friend Abu Saleh near the pond when Sarfaraz accidentally fell in the pond. Abu Saleh, a mentally challenged boy,  did not inform anyone and continued playing. Unfortunately, people passing by the pond did not notice about the drowned boy.

Whdn Sarfaraz did not return, his family got apprehensive and started searching for him. When Abu Saleh was asked, he informed about the drowning. 

Sarfaraz was immediately rushed to the hospital but it was too late. It is learnt that Sarfaraz was epiletic and had discontinued his studies.

Meanwhile, the locals got furious over the incident and alleged that a barricade was not constructed near the pond in spite of repeated demands by the residents and the fund to construct a barricade was not utilised properly by the administration. 

A case has been registered in Gangolli police station.