Mar 16, Kathmandu - A young boy has gone missing after drowning in the Mahakali River while swimming. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Devendra Budhathoki from the Darchula District Police Office, 15-year-old Dheeraj Dhami from Vyas Rural Municipality-6 disappeared after drowning in the Mahakali River.

Dhami was swimming with friends near the Mahakali Municipality-5 Bus Park area. He was a student of Mahendra Secondary School, currently in Grade 9, police officials confirmed.

The incident occurred around 1 p.m. on Monday afternoon when Dhami was swimming with friends. Fortunately, two of his friends who were with him are safe. 

According to the friends' account, Dhami was not a strong swimmer. He managed to cross the river with their help on his first attempt but was in the middle of the river when he drowned while trying to return to Nepal from India. After that, contact with him was lost.

The search for the missing boy is ongoing. The District Police Office in Darchula has stated that Nepalese police, armed police, and local residents are jointly conducting search operations at the scene.