Berhampur, May 24: Two teenage boys drowned while learning to swim in a pond at Ankoli area in Berhampur on Sunday morning, a source said.

The deceased were identified as Biswajit Panda from Gajapati Nagar area and Abhijit Marandi from Khodasingi area. Both were students of De Paul School in Berhampur and had recently passed their matriculation examinations with good marks, the source informed.

According to the source, four friends had gone to the Ankoli Nigam Nagar pond in the morning during the summer vacation after completing running practice at a nearby playground. The boys had reportedly planned to bathe and learn swimming in the pond.

The source said one of the boys suddenly slipped into deep water and began drowning. Another boy jumped in to rescue him, but he too drowned in the process. A third boy also reportedly struggled in the water but was rescued safely by another friend standing nearby.

The surviving boy immediately alerted the Fire Services personnel, who rushed to the spot and rescued the two teenagers from the pond. The boys were shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur, where doctors declared them dead.

Family members said the boys had informed their parents that they were going to play at the Engineering College ground. They alleged that despite being warned not to visit the pond, the boys went there with friends, leading to the tragedy.

Biswajit was also known as a talented sportsperson apart from being good in academics, relatives said. Both students had reportedly enrolled for Plus Two Science studies after clearing the matriculation examination this year.

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The incident triggered grief in the locality, with relatives and well-wishers gathering at the hospital after the news spread. Berhampur MLA K Anil Kumar also visited the hospital and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.

Fire Services officials appealed to people who do not know how to swim to avoid entering ponds and other water bodies without proper safety measures.