GORAKHPUR, April 2 -- Four children, all close friends, went missing in Khorabar town of Gorakhpur district on Wednesday evening. Their bicycles and clothes on the bank of the Rapti river have raised fears that they may have drowned while bathing, officials said. According to Gautam Gupta from the disaster management office, rescue teams were rushed to the spot after information was received around 6:15 pm. However, the search operation was initially hampered by poor visibility. Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Deepak Gupta said the children had left their homes to play but did not return by evening, prompting their families to launch a search. During the search, four bicycles and some clothes were found abandoned near the riverbank, deepening concerns of a possible drowning. Local police and villagers immediately began a search operation in and around the area. Divers were deployed, and teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were called in to assist. Villagers said the missing children are aged between 12 and 15 years. Neighbours identified three of the children as Topper Rajbhar, Viru Nishad and Vipin Nishad, while the identity of the fourth child is yet to be confirmed. SHO of Khorabar police station, Sudhanshu Singh, said, "A search operation is underway with the help of local divers and NDRF teams. We are scanning the river and adjoining areas. All possible efforts are being made to trace the missing children."HTC...