In a failed bid to save a youth from drowning, six youngsters out for a picnic lost their lives in Mahadevpani lake in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, police said today.

The incident took place yesterday when the picnickers from Bhopal ventured into the water body to save Deepak Yadav (18) from drowning, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sunil Jain said.

According to police, the deceased entered the lake one after another when they noticed Yadav drowning. Jain said the bodies of seven victims Anil Yadav (20), Ramkumar Sahu (22), Mona Yadav (17), Mahendra Yadav (18), Mohamaed Zeeshan, Mohammad Asif and Deepak were fished out last night by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation divers. Raisen Collector M L Meena said Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh each to the kin of the deceased.

Watch: Family washed away at picnic in Madhya Pradesh.