A deeply saddening event unfolded in Chirauti village on Tuesday. Two young cousins drowned in the Tesua drain located near the village. The incident has cast a pall of gloom over the entire community.
The deceased were identified as 6-year-old Rabia Joshi, daughter of Anoop Joshi, and 7-year-old Ankita Joshi, daughter of Sanjay Joshi. Both girls were cousins and had gone to the drain to bathe with two other children.
During the summer months, children frequently visit the Tesua drain for swimming and games. On this particular Tuesday, the cousins accompanied their friends. While in the water, they accidentally slipped into a deeper section. The other children quickly alerted the villagers. By the time the villagers managed to retrieve the girls and transport them to a hospital, it was too late. The Sargawa police arrived at the scene, conducted the necessary investigations, and, after the post-mortem, released the bodies to the grieving families.
The village has fallen silent in the wake of this devastating event. Family members are overwhelmed with grief, and the villagers are grappling with shock, pondering whether the tragedy could have been averted with better supervision.
The incident brings to light critical concerns regarding children’s safety. The cheerful presence of young children in Chirauti’s streets is now replaced with an atmosphere of profound sorrow.