The bodies of four boys, aged between seven and 17, who had been reported missing since yesterday afternoon, were found floating in a pond created for storage of surplus water from Mettur Dam in nearby Salem today.

All were residents of Mettur Camp, some 30 km from Salem.

The parents were in search of Manikandan (17), Mohanraj (7), Raja (10) and Tamizh Azhakagan (8) from yesterday afternoon. People in the village have been tense since yesterday and information reached this morning that the bodies of the four were found in the pond, police said.

Police, with assistance of Fire and Rescue personnel brought the bodies to the shore and sent them for post mortem to Mettur Government Hospital.

Manikandan, a Plus Two student, used to work as a daily labourer during holidays. Raja and Tamizh Magan, studying in Grade VI and IV, respectively, were brothers and Mohanraj was a Grade II student.

Police are investigating into the circumstances leading to death.