Daijiworld Media Network - Patna
Patna, Jun 21: Three children drowned in the Ganga River while bathing at Hetanpur Ghat in Bihar’s Danapur subdivision on Sunday morning, leaving the village in deep shock.
The victims, aged between 10 and 12 years, were residents of Hetanpur village in the diara region under Shahpur police station limits. The deceased have been identified as Piyush Kumar (10), son of Dharmveer Rai; Tej Kumar (12), son of Satyendra Rai; and Prince Kumar (10), son of Amitabh Bachchan Rai.
According to local residents, the three boys had gone to the ghat along with other children for a morning bath. While playing in the river, they reportedly moved towards deeper waters and struggled to stay afloat.
The other children raised an alarm, following which nearby residents rushed to the spot and jumped into the river. The villagers managed to rescue the boys and bring them out of the water.
Witnesses said the children were breathing when they were rescued, but their condition worsened before medical assistance could reach them. They were immediately taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors examined them and later declared them dead.
ECG tests were also conducted following requests from the families before the deaths were officially confirmed.
The tragedy triggered scenes of grief at the hospital, with family members and villagers gathering in large numbers to mourn the loss of the children.
Danapur Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Anirudh Pandey said the administration received information about the incident around 9 am. He confirmed that post-mortem examinations were conducted and officials were ensuring that all eligible assistance reached the affected families.
Circle Officer Chandan Kumar said the bodies were sent to Danapur Sub-Divisional Hospital for post-mortem examination. He added that an immediate financial assistance of Rs 20,000 would be provided to each family, along with the standard compensation of Rs 4 lakh for drowning deaths.
The incident has left Hetanpur village mourning, with parents, relatives and residents grieving the untimely loss of the three young boys.