Tragedy Strikes Sitapur Village as Two Young Girls Drown
Two minor girls lost their lives in a heartbreaking drowning incident on Tuesday afternoon. The tragedy unfolded at Sitapur, located in Ward 1 of Hariraha panchayat. This area falls under the jurisdiction of the Karjain police station in Supaul district.
Victims Identified as Close Friends and Neighbors
The deceased have been identified as Preeti Priya, aged 11, and Khushboo Kumari, aged 9. Preeti was the daughter of Suresh Mehta, while Khushboo was the daughter of Rajesh Kumar Mehta. According to local villagers, the two girls were not only neighbors but also close friends. They often played together near their homes.
Unfenced Pond Proves Fatal During Playtime
On that fateful Tuesday afternoon, the girls were playing as usual. They ventured close to a nearby pond. This particular water body lacked any fencing or protective boundary. Police officials suspect that the girls accidentally slipped and fell into the deep water. Unable to swim, they could not reach safety.
Desperate Search and Rescue Attempt
When the girls did not return home after some time, their family members grew worried. Neighbors joined the search. During this frantic effort, people noticed unusual movement in the pond water. Acting quickly, several individuals jumped into the pond to rescue the girls. They managed to pull both children out, but the girls were already unconscious.
Rushed to Hospital, Pronounced Dead
The unconscious girls were immediately rushed to the Raghopur referral hospital. Doctors examined them but could only declare them dead. The incident occurred around 1:30 PM, as confirmed by the police.
Police Investigation and Postmortem
Local residents informed the police about the tragedy. Following this, the bodies were sent to Supaul Sadar Hospital for a postmortem examination. Karjain Station House Officer Manish Kumar stated, "We are investigating all aspects of the case, including the circumstances leading to the accident." He emphasized that the police are looking into every detail.
Villagers Highlight Ongoing Safety Hazard
Residents of the area expressed deep concern after the incident. They pointed out that several ponds in the region remain unfenced. This lack of protective barriers poses a serious and continuous risk to children. The villagers have now urgently appealed to the local administration. They are demanding the installation of proper fencing around these water bodies. Their goal is clear: to prevent such heartbreaking accidents from happening again in the future.
