Dharwad: Three minor boys who went swimming drowned in a lake in this district on Saturday, police said.

The incident occurred near Singanahalli village under the Garag police station limits of Dharwad district at around 4 pm to 4.15 pm, they said.

Speaking to reporters, Dharwad Superintendent of Police Gunjan Arya said three boys, aged 12, 15, and 16 years, had gone to the lake for swimming during their summer vacation.

According to him, two of the boys were residents of Singanahalli village, while the third had come from Bailhongal taluk to stay with relatives during the holidays. All three boys were related to each other.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the boys entered the water using a thermocol sheet as a floating aid to swim. However, due to heavy silt deposits at the bottom of the lake, they reportedly got trapped and drowned, he said.

A boy who was fishing nearby noticed the incident and alerted his parents, who in turn informed the authorities, police said.

Upon receiving the information, personnel from the Garag Police Station and officers from the Fire and Emergency Services Department rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation, they added.

"The bodies have been recovered and shifted to the hospital. Two bodies were recovered earlier, while the third was retrieved with the assistance of the Fire Department," SP Arya said.

Expressing concern over the increasing number of such incidents during vacations, the SP said the district police would conduct awareness programmes to educate parents and children about water safety.

"During summer vacations, children often spend their afternoons outdoors and may venture near lakes and water bodies. We will organise awareness camps to ensure parents keep a close watch on their children and help prevent such tragedies," he added.