Two youths, including a student preparing for various competitive examinations, were feared drowned while taking a bath in the Ganga in Sultanganj area of the city on Sunday.

The victims, Sundram (16) and Vicky (24), both cousins, had gone to Ranighat to take a bath in the river on Sunday morning. They lost balance and reportedly slipped into deep water, leading to their death.

Eyewitnesses said some residents, who were present at the ghat, tried to save the youths but in vain.

Later, a diver Suresh Sahni was pressed into service to fish out the bodies of the youths.

An officer posted at the Sultanganj police station, said Sundaram was a resident of Gaya, while Vicky was living with his parents at Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Vicky had recently passed his Intermediate examinations and had come to see his cousin on Saturday.

The police officer said the bodies of the victims were handed over to their relatives after post-mortem.

“It’s a case of drowning and nothing else,” the officer said, adding that the duo preferred to bathe in the river owing to scarcity of water in the locality.