Ballari: What began as a playful evening ended in heartbreak when two young boys lost their lives to drowning in a farm pond in Sidiginamola village, Ballari district, on Thursday.

The deceased have been identified as Rajesh, aged 11, and Sivashankar, aged 12. According to authorities, the children had just finished playing a game of cricket and decided to cool off with a swim in a nearby agricultural pond. Tragically, the fun turned fatal when the boys ventured into deeper water and were unable to make it back to the shore.

Police were alerted soon after the incident, and a case has been filed at the Paramadevanahalli (PD village) police station. An investigation is currently underway to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the drowning.

Locals have expressed grief over the incident, and officials have urged parents to remain vigilant and discourage unsupervised swims, especially in unsecured farm ponds that often lack fencing or warning signs.

The tragedy has once again raised concerns about the safety of water bodies in rural areas and the need for increased awareness about water hazards among children.