Yellapur: In a suspected case of drowning, the bodies of two college students were found near a waterfalls near here at Yellapur on 10th October, Tuesday.

The police said that the bodies were noticed by local villagers near Kanooru waterfalls located near Mavinamane in Yellapur taluk.

It is said, Keegan Vinod Fernandes (21) of Kalammannager in Yellapur and Sylvan Lawrence Fernandes (17) of Ganapati Galli in Yellapur town went for trekking along with their friends.

They had gone to waterfalls along with their friends from Belagavi on Sunday. The duo drowned, the friends who were with them might have fled the scene without informing anyone. It is also not sure when the drowning happened as the bodies were surfaced on Tuesday.

The villagers who saw the bodies, informed Yellapur police. The parents have reportedly said their children would often go for trekking and tours with their friends for two-three days. As their children used to travel often, they did not suspect anything wrong and no missing complaint was lodged.

Sources said one of the victim’s sister knew that her brother was going to waterfalls along with his friends from Belagavi and Hubballi. She informed the same to the police who are investigating the case.

The bodies were fished out and handed over to their parents after conducting post mortem at Yellapur government hospital. 

“Nothing can be said till we ask the friends who were present on the day of accident. We are looking at all the angles, including the possibility of murder. As Yellapur and surrounding areas have larger forest patch, it’s impossible to monitor the area for the police or the Forest Department. The parents must caution their children not to venture into waterfalls during rainy season. Many waterfalls come life during these months where safety measures and monitoring must be strengthened", said a police.

A case has been registered in Yellapur police station.