Three students of the Tunku Abdul Rahman University (Utar) drowned after they were swept away by a sudden torrent of water at the Batu Berangkai waterfalls in Kampar.

The incident happened at about 5.30pm Sunday.

The body of James Khor Wan Kai, 20, was found at 9.40pm about 300m from the waterfalls by nearby villagers while that of Yew Shy Jin was found about an hour later by the search and rescue team.

The body of the third student, Yew Ghin Chnieh, 20, was found at 12.05am Monday, about 500m away.

Their bodies have been brought to the Kampar Hospital.

Perak Exco meber Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the trio had gone to the waterfalls for a swim at about 5pm with another male student.

ames Wan and Ghin Chnieh and the girl, Shy Gin, waded into the water first.

The 22-year old male accountancy student, who declined to be identified told Dr Mah that he had just stepped into the pool when a sudden torrent of water hit them and swept them downstream.

He managed to scramble out of the river with cuts and bruises on his body caused by tumbling over rocks in the fast flowing water.

Villagers said it had rained earlier but had stopped when the students went to the popular picnic spot. Apparently heavy rain was still falling upstream.

The survivor told rescuers that one man pullled out of the river and later took him to the Kampar police station to lodge a report.

This is the second tragedy to occur in the Kampar area in a week.

On Oct 26, a suspension bridge collapsed in Kuala Dipang, about 15km away from Batu Berangkai. Twenty-two schoolchildren who were crossing the bridge were thrown into the river.

Three schoolgirls drowned while 19 other pupils were saved.