Siliguri, March 6: Three youths riding on a motorcycle plunged to death today when they fell off the side of a bridge 25 feet down onto a dry riverbed at Singhijhora, around 10 km from here today.

The youths have been identified as Lakbir Singh (22), Nandalal Mahata (19) and Manoj Sau (20), police said. Lakbir used to work at a tailor?s shop while Manoj was a partner of a car battery shop. Both were residents of Hyderpara. Nandalal, who was unemployed, used to stay in Prakashnagar.

Lakbir and Nandalal died on the spot, while Manoj was taken to North Bengal Medical College Hospital, where he died an hour after admission. ?None of them was wearing a helmet. We have registered case of death due to rash and negligent driving,? Tamang said.

According to the police, the three, who had gone on a trip yesterday, were returning to Siliguri this morning. ?They were travelling from the Sevoke side at very high speed and seemed to be under the influence of alcohol,? said Jiten Tamang, the officer-in-charge of Bhaktinagar police station.

?Manoj, who was driving the motorcycle, must have been riding at almost 100 kmph as a result of which, he lost control and the vehicle shot off the side of the bridge,? the officer said. ?The motorcycle seemed to have flown over the 60-ft span of the riverbed before landing on the other side.?