Two higher secondary examinees from Nadia’s Santipur, bathing in the Hooghly in Nadia’s Santipur while bathing on Sunday afternoon, have gone missing and are feared drowned.

Akash Sarkar and Rohan Biswas, both aged 18 and examinees in this year’s higher secondary exams appearing from the Santipur Municipal High School, who are also neighbours at the 2-Railgate Colony in Santipur, had gone to the river with two other boys to “take a break from studies”, a common friend said.

“None of then knew how to swim,” the friend added.

“They were bathing in the afternoon when suddenly a current appeared out of nowhere and swept the two boys away,” said an eyewitness.

Till Sunday evening, neither Akash nor Rohan has been traced.

Sayan De, one of the friends who accompanied the missing duo, added: “We tried to discourage them but they went into the deep end of the ghat. It was Akash who suddenly lost control and was swept away. Rohan tried to drag him back but failed as a heavy current in the river stream swept him away. It happened within seconds. We cried out for help but it was too late,” Sayan said.

Akash’s father Sukumar Sarkar, a physician, added: “My son never learned how to swim. I am shocked and surprised at how he dared to take the risk of going to the river for a bath.”

Police engaged divers of the disaster management wing to trace the boys. But the heavy current reportedly delayed the operation.

Residents said the area had become dangerous owing to repeated erosion of the Hooghly’s banks. BJP councillor Mahananda Biswas said he would look into putting up a hazard warning board in the area.

“I will try to put up a cautionary board at the ghat after taking up the matter with the civic board,” he said.