RUPANDEHI: Three youths drowned on Wednesday during the immersion of a Durga idol at Suryapuraghat in Gaidahawa Rural Municipality–6, Rupandehi.

According to police, the deceased have been identified as 13-year-old Ajay Harijan, 15-year-old Deepu Harijan, and 28-year-old Rohit Harijan, all residents of Mayadevi Rural Municipality–1.

Police said the trio had gone to Santeshwar Ghat at Suryapura — located at the confluence of the Danav and Kanchan rivers — around 3 p.m. to perform the immersion ritual.

They reportedly went missing in the river during the ceremony, prompting police and locals to begin a search operation.The bodies were later found about 200 meters downstream, police added.

The tragic incident occurred as locals were preparing for the upcoming Chhath festival, casting a pall of grief over the Suryapura and Mayadevi areas.