A polytechnic student, Bhaskar Reddy (17), drowned in a pond at Kanichela village of Peddamandyam mandal of Annamayya district on Sunday.

According to the police, the boy, a resident of Bandimeeda Palli village of B.Kothakota mandal went to his friend’s house at Kanicherla on Saturday evening to participate in the concluding ceremony of Sri Ramanavami festivities at a local temple.

After a night’s stay, Bhaskar Reddy and his friends reached a pond at the village outskirts and the batch ventured into the waters for a swim. However, Bhaskar Reddy felt short of breath and started drowning. Though his friends tried to rescue him, their efforts turned futile. Locals retrieved the body from the pond. The police registered a case and took up further investigation.