The selfie clicked by the students at the steps of the Gundanjaneya temple pond. G. Vishwas is seen drowning at the marked spot.
Bengaluru: A 17-year-old NCC cadet drowned in a temple pond in Karnataka's Ramanagar district while his friends were engrossed in clicking a group selfie that captured him struggling to stay afloat.
G. Vishwas was part of a group of 25 NCC cadets who went trekking on Sunday to Ravagondlu Betta, about 40 km from here.
As the others were taking selfies at the steps of the Gundanjaneya temple pond, Vishwas slipped and fell into the water. His companions did not immediately notice him struggling in the water even though it was captured in their selfie.
By the time they realized he was missing, the teen was nowhere to be seen. The cadets ran for help but found no one who could.
An hour later, the college boy's body was fished out of the 300-year-old tank.
"Yes, there are pictures of his drowning. The drowning happened when the pictures were taken," said Ramanagar SP Ramesh Bhanot.
Vishwas's father Govindaraju, an autorickshaw driver, has lodged a police complaint accusing the college management of being negligent and causing his son's death, said the police.
"We have registered a case of unnatural death. Investigations are on. We have to see whether there is any negligence on the part of those leading the team," Bhanot said.
Read more: Latest national news | Hizbul Mujahideen commander Abdul Qayoom Najar killed in Baramulla
