VALPOI: A picnic turned into tragedy for a 20-year-old student when he drowned while taking a bath in Sonal river in Sattari on Saturday.
The police disclosed the name of the deceased as Gaurish Barve from Vithalapur-Karapur, Sankhali.
He was a student of Government College of Arts, Commerce and Science, Sankhali.
As per information, Gaurish drowned in the river one kilometre away from the famous picnic spot Movacho Guno in Sonal village. This incident has taken the death toll up to 7 in the last five years. However, this is the second drowning death in a week’s time.
It is learnt that Gaurish alongwith two other friends Praveen Gadgil and Mayuresh Bhat had gone to Sonal village for a picnic.
While, bathing in the river, Gaurish ventured away from the safe zone and started struggling for life. When his friend, Praveen rushed to his rescue, he also found himself in distress. Seeing both in trouble, Mayuresh jumped into the water to rescue them; unfortunately, he could not save Gaurish.
Later, locals jumped into the river and found the body of Gaurish.
According to police, Praveen was moved to primary health centre at Valpoi and later shifted at GMC hospital, Bambolim.
According to PI Pednekar, police personnel have been deputed at Movacho Guno and finding policemen at the spot the trio decided to go one kilometre away from there to have bath in the river.
PI Pednekar informed that the body was referred to the GMC hospital for autopsy.