An engineering student drowned in a water tank at Bandlaguda on the outskirts of city while trying to save himself from honey bees, police said.

After attending classes, V Aravind (20), a third-year B Tech student in a private college in Nalgonda, along with his two friends came to Geological Survey of India (GSI) campus at Bandlaguda near the forest area to watch peacocks and other birds, when they came under attack by the bees near a water tank, L B Nagar police said.

Trying to avoid being attacked, Aravind jumped in the tank but got drowned. His body was retrieved in the early hours of Friday.

The trio perhaps accidentally disrupted a beehive near the water tank, a police officer said based on preliminary investigation.

While both the friends of Aravind managed to flee from the area, Aravind jumped into the water tank and drowned, a police officer said.

Aravind's friends reported on the incident only late on Thursday night and after a search his body was recovered from the tank.

An autopsy was conducted on Aravind's body. L B Nagar police have booked a case.