Bhagalpur: A team of the state disaster response force (SDRF) fished out the bodies of two students of Bhagalpur College of Engineering on Monday afternoon from the Ganga.

College principal Nirmal Kumar said Rupesh Kumar (20) and Himanshu Kumar (21), the two second-year students of mechanical engineering and other inmates of the college hostel went behind the campus to the ghat to take selfies on cellphones on the river bank when they slipped.

But the body of another youth from Goradih block who also drowned in the river while taking a bath in nearby Jiyauddinpur Chouka Ghat on Sunday, is yet to be recovered.

Ganeshji Oja, an inspector-rank officer of the SDRF team, said the search was stopped on Sunday night after their cylinders ran out of oxygen. "We began a search from Monday early morning and found the bodies."

According to Nirmal Kumar, principal, Bhagalpur College of Engineering, Rupesh Kumar (20) and Himanshu Kumar (21), the two second-year students of mechanical engineering and other inmates of the college hostel went behind the college campus to the ghat. The incident occurred when Rupesh and Himanshu was busy taking selfies. Rupesh slipped but he caught Himanshu and both drowned. Some students were present at the spot while some others were taking a bath in the river. "The incident happened so quickly that it gave us no time to make a rescue effort," said Sanjeev Kumar, an eyewitness and also a student of the college.

Rupesh was a resident of Bakhri village under Patahi block in East Champaran district while Himanshu hailed from Athgama village in Ghogha in Bhagalpur.

Sanjit Kumar (32) from Kharwa village under Goradih block had come with his mother to take a bath at Jiyauddinpur Chouka Ghat, on Basanti Navratra. He slipped and disappeared into the river. "A search operation is in progress to find the body," said Tarun Kesri, the block development officer, Sabour.

The Bhagalpur administration had earlier declared the river ghats from Engineering College Ghat to Rajandipur Ghat, including Babupur and DPS Ghats dangerous and not safe for taking bath.

On January 1, three teenaged boys from Rajandipur drowned when a boat capsized near Rajandipur Ghat. "Due to change in the river's course due to pillars (No. 6 and 7) of Vikramshila bridge across the Ganga, these ghats face rapid erosion. Every year such incidents take place in the areas," said Gopal Mandal a resident near DPS Ghat.

Last year during floods, a lot of erosion had occurred. Huge chunk of lands of BCE along with Delhi Public school (DPS) had disappeared inside the river. "We tell the hostel inmates and other students not to visit the ghat behind the college campus. The incident occurred due to ignorance by the students," said a teacher at Bhagalpur College of Engineering.