Rourkela, Feb. 24: Two students of a local English medium school, out for a swim with friends in the Kansbahal dam, nearly 30km from Rourkela, drowned today while another was admitted to Ispat General Hospital here in a critical condition.

Police sources said a group of seven Class IX students from MGM English Medium School here had gone to the dam for a picnic today as their exams got over on Saturday. They reached the site on three motorcycles. It was around noon when they decided to take a bath in the huge reservoir. While the Bisal Gupta and Abhishek Sahu were swept away, another student, Adarsh Singh, was seen struggling in the water. Local fishermen dragged him out of the reservoir and rushed him to hospital. Adarsh is said to be in a serious condition. The four others are in a state of shock.

Inspector in charge of Rajgangpur Manas Pradhan said: “Two boys, Bisal Gupta and Abhishek Sahu, died and another boy Adarsh Singh is battling for his life.”