Bhatkal: Three engineering students who had gone to the Apsarkonda beach in Honnavar taluk for taking bath drowned on Sunday evening. The accident took place in under Manki police station limit in Honnavar taluk, 25km from here.

According to Manki police, the trio, identified as Mohan (21), Tejas (22) and Chetan (22), had come to Apsarkonda beach with 6 other students from Bangalore.

All the nine students belongs to RV Engineering college, Bangalore, went to Apsarkonda beach at 4pm. They were bathing when one of them was swept away by strong currents. Two of his friends attempted to save him. But they were also swept away by the strong waves.

The local villagers who rushed to rescue the students, pulled all the three from the sea, but by the time two of them had already lost their lives while the third breathed his last when he was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

Manki police have registered the case.