The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Cox's Bazar

Their picnic mood soon turned into of a grim tragedy as three college students were washed away into the Bay waters in the tourist resort here yesterday.

Local people and rescuers, however, rescued four others and got them admitted into Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital.

Police said 11 students of different colleges in Chittagong came here Friday on excursion. Of them, seven went to the beach to take a bath at about 12:30pm despite the sea remaining rough.

"At one stage of the pleasure bathing, strong currents of heavy waves washed away three from the Seagull point," says a spot account of the incident.

They were identified as Rubayet Hasan, a Law student of Premier University, and Rubel Das and Rifat Hasan, who both appeared at the just-completed HSC examination from Sunshine School and College.

Police and rescuers were continuing rescue operation for the three missing students.

Beach workers said they hoisted "red flag" on the beach to warn the tourists about rough sea. But, none did pay heed to the signal and kept wading through the water.

Five more tourists have had their watery burial while wallowing in the Bay waters on this beach in last three months.