Patna, May 6: At least five youths, aged between 12 and 18 years, drowned in the Ganga near Pipa bridge in Danapur today, sending shockwaves through the area.

The incident occurred around 2pm, when a number of people from Ashopur village of Danapur assembled at the Ganga ghat for the cremation of one Sudania Devi, a resident of the same village.

After the cremation was over, the people attending the last rites took a dip in the river. It was at this time that five boys, who were a part of the crowd, were swept away by a strong current in the river. The current was so fast that the others in the group could only watch in shock as the boys were swept away by the river, a police officer said.

Those dead have been identified as Guddu (12), Sunny Kumar (18), Nakul alias Pankaj (12), Munna (11) and Sonu alias Suraj (14). All the boys hail from Ashopur village. After the boys drowned, the people raised an alarm. The police was informed immediately.

Patna superintendent of police (city) Shivdeep Lande, deputy superintendent of police (Phulwari) Rakesh Dubey and a fleet of other police officers rushed to the spot. Fishermen from the area also assisted the police in the recovery of the bodies.

After a search for almost an hour, the bodies were fished out from the river. A police officer said it is an unfortunate incident.

The boys apparently went a bit deep into the water and got caught in the current from where they could not return, he said. The bodies have been sent for post mortem at the Patna Medical College Hospital, the police officer said.

A large number of people assembled at the spot after the incident. Parents and relatives of the boys waited at the spot hoping for some miracle. However, all their hopes were washed away when the fishermen brought the bodies to the ghat.

“Someone should have saved them. There were so many people standing there. Why did not anyone show a bit of courage and reach out for them?” a grieving relative said.

Eyewitnesses said there were many people when the incident happened and hence there was a confusion.

“There was a big crowd. It led to confusion and no one really noticed until it was very late,” a resident said.