BANDIPORA, May 9 -- Three young men drowned in the River Jhelum after allegedly slipping into the water while washing tenting material along its banks in Hajin area of north Kashmir's Bandipora district on Thursday, officials said.

The incident occurred in the Check Chandergeer area of Hajin, where the youths had gone to clean tenting material near the river.

Officials said all three youths slipped into the river and were swept away by the strong current, triggering panic in the area.

Soon after the incident, local residents and volunteers launched rescue operations and managed to retrieve two bodies during the initial search, while the third body was recovered later after extensive efforts.

The deceased were identified as Aadil Ahmad...