In a heart-wrenching tragedy, two young siblings lost their lives after drowning in a village pond at Samsarpur village under Bhubaneswar Panchayat in Jajpur district on Sunday, leaving the local community in deep shock and sorrow.
Tragedy unfolds near village pond
The deceased children have been identified as Shankar Guru and Parvati Guru, son and daughter of Chandrasekhar Guru, a resident of the village. According to locals, the incident occurred around noon when Shankar was playing near the village pond.
He reportedly slipped into the water accidentally and began to drown. Seeing her brother in distress, Parvati jumped into the pond in an attempt to save him. Tragically, both children were swept into deeper waters and drowned before help could arrive.
Parents away due to illness
At the time of the incident, the children’s mother had taken their father to a nearby hospital for treatment. Chandrasekhar Guru has been suffering from paralysis, and the family has been struggling financially, with the mother working as a daily wage labourer to support the household.
After returning from the hospital and not finding the children at home, the mother began searching for them. With the help of villagers, the siblings were later found floating in the pond.
They were immediately pulled out and rushed to the hospital, but doctors declared both children dead on arrival.
Village mourns, seeks support for family
A pall of gloom descended over Samsarpur village following the tragic deaths, especially given the family’s already fragile circumstances. Villagers expressed deep anguish and called upon the local administration to extend financial assistance and support to the bereaved family.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers posed by unprotected water bodies in rural areas and the urgent need for safety measures and community awareness.