Sambalpur: Two Class X students of Sri Aurobindo Integral Education drowned while bathing in the Chiplima power channel on Friday.

The bodies of the students identified as Sumit Kumar Dash and Samir Kumar Dalai were recovered by fire brigade personnel.

Eight students of the school were taking coaching classes at a private coaching centre at Hirakud colony till late night on Thursday. They slept at a place provided by the in-charge of the coaching centre. On Friday morning, the students went to Mahanadi river and the crossed the river through the newly constructed bridge and entered to the power channel on the other side. Sumit and Samir without knowing swimming entered into the 20-feet deep channel. Both of them were washed away. Their friend Bibhuti Sahu jumped into the water to rescue them but couldn't save them.

The other students informed the parents of Sumit and Samir, who intimated the police and the fire brigade.

Sumit is the son of Balaram Dash, an employee of the Hindalco plant and a resident of Kulutkani, while Samir is the son of Karunakar Dalai, an employee of Indian Oil Corporation's refinery at Paradip and resident of Badbazar.

A large number of people gathered near the power channel and requested local MLA Raseswari Panigrahi to put up a danger signboard to prevent people from bathing at the power channel.