A 24-year-old man drowned in Begnas Lake in Pokhara on Saturday, October 3, 2026, after going missing while swimming. His body was recovered from approximately 25 feet underwater by a dive team from the Armed Police Force, Nepal’s paramilitary force.
Naresh Bika, originally from Salyan and currently residing in Khasibazar, Pokhara Metropolitan City-14, was swimming and bathing in Begnas Lake, located in Pokhara Metropolitan City-31, when he disappeared. The Armed Police Force Kalika Battalion in Pokhara was alerted about the incident.
According to Battalion Chief Basanta Bahadur Singh, a search and rescue team was immediately dispatched. An 11-member team, including divers and led by Armed Police Inspector Sharan Bahadur Khadka, arrived at the scene at 5:55 PM.
Divers Armed Police Constables Devraj Khanal and Yuvraj Shrestha located Bika’s body at around 7:00 PM, approximately 25 feet below the surface of the lake.
The Armed Police Force stated that Bika’s body has been sent for post-mortem examination to the Western Regional Hospital under the Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences. Police are expected to conduct further investigations into the incident.
This incident marks another drowning in Begnas Lake, which has seen previous fatalities. In October 2022, 28-year-old Lal Bahadur Gurung died after a boat capsized. More recently, in June 2026, 43-year-old Rajesh Shrestha also drowned while swimming in the lake.
The exact cause of Naresh Bika’s drowning, such as his swimming ability, misjudgment of depth or current, or any other sudden factor, remains unknown. A detailed post-mortem report has not yet been released, and authorities have not commented on whether any suspicious activity was involved. Details regarding informing the deceased’s family or any new safety measures for Begnas Lake are also unavailable.
