Two persons drowned, while a third person is missing, in a check dam constructed across Shimsha river at Manechenduru in Turuvekere taluk of Tumakuru district on Sunday.

The deceased have been identified as Veda, 28, a JCB operator of Nuggehalli in Channarayapatna taluk, Hassan district, and Manjunath, 20, a tractor driver. The third person — PU student Naveen, 18, is feared drowned, the police said. Manjunath and Naveen are cousins and natives of Manechenduru. The police said that Manjunath, Veda, Naveen, along with two others – Santhosh and Rudresh – had gone to the check dam on Sunday afternoon. As Rudresh and Santhosh did not know swimming, they stood on the banks of the check dam.

Veda, Manjunath, and Naveen got into the water to swim. But as they did not come up after a few minutes, Santhosh and Rudresh alerted passers-by and informed the police.

A case has been registered in Turuvekere police station.