India, April 1 -- The festive spirit of Ugadi festival was marred by tragedy as five individuals lost their lives to drowning in separate incidents across the state, officials confirmed on Monday.

In Bagalkot district, three teenage boys from Seethimani village in Bagalkot taluk drowned in the Krishna River while swimming. The victims have been identified as Somasekhara Devaramani (15), Paranagouda Beelagi (17), and Mallappa Bagali (16). Search teams recovered Somasekhara's body on Sunday, while efforts continue to retrieve the other two.

Local firefighters, along with police and villagers, have been engaged in search operations in the river. "The incident occurred around 3pm on Sunday when the boys entered the Krishna River for a swim,...