Four boys from an orphanage drowned while swimming in a lake in Kanajenahalli Gate in Rangasthala in Chickballapur on Monday.
The deceased have been identified as Yeshwanth (10), Narasimhamurthy (16), and brothers Aadhi and Ajay, 10 to 12 years of age, the police said. The supervisor of Manasa Orphanage, Shivakumar (32), has been arrested on the charge of negligence.
“It was a heart-wrenching sight for divers from Rangasthala and the police when they brought out the bodies. The boys were still holding on to each other’s hands,” said a senior police officer.
Aadhi and Ajay were from Manchenahalli village in Chikkaballapur. They were admitted to the orphanage only 10 days ago by their mother as their father, who works in a bar, often quarrelled with her. The mother got them admitted to the orphanage with the help of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in the interest of their education, police added.
Narasimhamurthy is from Madhugiri in Tumakuru. Police are ascertaining details about Yeshwanth.
On Monday, after having lunch in the hostel, the boys sneaked outside around 2 p.m. They had ventured into the lake to learn swimming.
The incident came to light when the orphanage staff could not find the boys.
When the bodies were recovered, they were found holding each other’s hands
