Three people died when they drowned while taking a ‘holy dip’ in Bumrung River in Imalia area of Kapilvastu district Saturday morning.

The dead have been identified as Ram Kishor Agrahari, 50, his son Binod, 18, and nephew Ashok, 14, reports said. The three victims of the same family were going to a local Shiva temple to pay homage to Lord Shiva.

According to eyewitnesses, Binod, who dived into the river while trying to rescue his cousin Ashok, himself drowned while Ram Kishor drowned while trying to pull the other two to the shore.

Rescue workers had fished out the dead bodies from the river, reports added.