India, Feb. 10 -- Two college students allegedly drowned while swimming in a pond near Bannerghatta on Saturday evening, police officers aware of the matter said on Sunday.

The victims, identified as Deepu (21) and Yogeshwar (20), were students at SFS First Grade Degree College in Hebbagodi police station limits.

Police said that the incident took place when a group of five friends, on their way back from a visit to Bannerghatta National Park, stopped at a temple pond for a swim.

"While returning from Bannerghatta, the five-member group entered the temple pond," said Bannerghatta police inspector M Krishna Kumar. "Deepu was the first to get into the water and attempted to swim, but he started struggling. Yogeshwar jumped in to the pond...