10 children drown trying to save friend in India

Ten children drowned in a river while trying to save a friend who accidentally fell into the water in northern India today, a government official said.

The children, aged eight-13, were swept away by strong currents, said RM Srivastava, the Uttar Pradesh state home secretary.

``The bodies of 10 children have been recovered, while efforts are being made to trace another missing child'' in Kaushambhi, a town 185 miles south-west of Lucknow, Srivastava said.