Divers search for the ISM students’ bodies at Bhatinda falls on Saturday. (Gautam Dey)

Dhanbad, Oct. 25: Two third-year students of Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad, drowned while taking a bath at Bhatinda falls in Moonidih, around 25km from the heart of the town, this afternoon.

So far, only one body has been recovered.

Arun Kumar Singh, a student of third-year computer science who hailed from Uttar Pradesh, and Labhansh Sharma of Madhya Pradesh, who was in third-year electrical engineering, chose to go for a swim along with two friends. This, despite the institute banning visits to the falls because of its treacherous waters and declaring it as a danger spot.

But the four, who were very good swimmers, decided to make the secret trip for some fun before they went home for Chhath break.

“The four had hired a tempo from their institute to go to Bhatinda falls to take bath. However, they were not able to gauge the depth of the water and two of the students drowned in front of their friends. Soon after the duo went missing in the waters, the survivors raised an alarm, prompting local residents to inform police,” said Dhanbad SP Hemant Toppo.

Ten local divers were pressed into action, but they could fish out only Arun’s body. Searches for the other body were still on when last reports came in.

Speaking to The Telegraph, ISM registrar Colonel M.K. Singh said that the four had defied the ban on visits to Bhatinda falls.

“The behaviour of the students was highly irresponsible. We had strictly banned trips to Bhatinda falls as it is infamous for drowning incidents. It’s a tragic moment for ISM. We can do nothing apart from feeling sorry. We have lost two of our brightest kids,” Singh rued.