Bhadrak, March 13: Two friends died after drowning in a pond at Arandua Malik Sahi under Basudevpur block on Friday morning.

According to sources, four to five friends had gone to play near a nearby pond in the morning. During the time, one of them accidentally slipped and fell into the water. While trying to rescue him, another friend also jumped into the pond but both started drowning.

The other children present at the spot immediately informed villagers and family members. Locals rushed to the spot and rescued one of them while he was floating in the pond and shifted him to Basudevpur Medical.

As the other boy was missing, the fire services team was informed. Fire personnel later conducted a search operation in the pond and recovered him before taking him to the hospital.

However, doctors declared both of them dead. The incident has cast a pall of gloom over the area.