HYDERABAD: Six Hindu community boys feared dead after being drowned downstream Kotri barrage in Indus River on Friday evening. Bodies of four of them have been fished out on Saturday by divers and volunteers, police said.

According to bereaved families, the youths had gone missing on Friday afternoon after they reportedly left for Al Manzar – a popular picnic point during summer season for bathing – in Jamshoro district downstream Kotri barrage. Temperature in Hyderabad is recorded at 46 degree Celsius.

“Every week these boys go for picnics according to their families. The families had mounted search for them when they didn't return by 9pm on Friday but didn't get any clue of them,” said SHO police station Market Wahid Bux Leghari.

Police said that the families of deceased had reported the matter to Market police station on the ground that they have gone ‘missing’ on Friday. On Saturday four bodies were fished out near Khanpur area of Kotri from river Indus by volunteers and divers and they were shifted to Liaquat University Hospital city branch.

According to Leghari, when the deceased didn't return home, their families lodged a report with Market police so that these could be traced. On Saturday four bodies were found. Two of them yet to be recovered, he said.

The deceased were identified as Santosh Kumar son of Pretam Das, 15, Kishoor Kumar son of Phool Chund, 15, Santosh Kumar son of Khaim Chund, 15 and Parkash Kumar son of Mohan Lal, 14. They are residents of Seroghat and Khai Road.

Two teenagers including Suraj Kumar son of Nand Lal, 15, and Vishal Kumar son of Ashok Kumar, 15, were reportedly accompanying them in picnic and are feared dead too. Their bodies are not recovered yet.

The deceased’s families had earlier in the day staged a protest demonstration on National Highway near and blocked road for some time. They also staged a protest outside local press club, seeking recovery of their children.

Usually, picnickers reach downstream Kotri barrage to bath when water is released in the river in summer season. Every year deaths are reported after teenagers and youths drowned while bathing in absence of any lifeguards there. The district administration enforces section 144 Cr.PC to ban bathing in the river. The ban is not yet imposed.