North Lakhimpur, July 20 -- Two teenage cousins drowned while bathing in an abandoned channel of the Bolahi River in Assam's Lakhimpur district on Monday.

The incident occurred around 10 am at Balijan Kaibartta village under Bordoi Gaon Panchayat, within the jurisdiction of Ghilamora Police Station.

The deceased have been identified as Bikash Das (15), son of Sanjib Das, and Niharika Das (14), daughter of Dhan Das.

According to eyewitnesses, the two were bathing in the channel when they were swept into a deeper section by the current.

Local residents made desperate attempts to rescue them using bamboo poles, but the duo drowned before they could be brought to safety.

Villagers later recovered the bodies and rushed them to Dhakuakhana...