Three boys, including two brothers, who had reportedly gone to collect fodder, drowned in the Beas when their bullock cart slipped off the road and fell into the river near Taggar Kalan village of Mukerian subdivision on Wednesday.
The police said the boys - Gurbachan (13), his brother Rachpal (11) and Hamik (11) - were returning to their village around 3.30pm when the oxen slipped into the waters while taking a sharp turn near Dhussi bandh. The boys also fell in the river and got carried away by the strong currents, the police said.
"The animals swam and reached the shore safely but the cart users were swept away," said Mukerian station house officer (SHO) Prem Kumar. He informed that Gurbachan's mother, who was following them on foot, raised an alarm at which people from nearby areas rushed to the spot but by that time the boys had disappeared.
Divers were called in the evening to locate the bodies but due to darkness the operation was suspended till Thursday.