Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

Jamtara (Jharkhand), Sep 29: Three young children drowned in a pond at Chegayadih village under Jamtara Sadar police station limits in Jharkhand on Tuesday, officials said.

The children had gone out to play together in the afternoon and later wandered towards a village pond in the Chirkutola area.

According to local residents, the children drowned while playing in the pond. Villagers rushed to the spot after learning about the incident and pulled them out of the water, but all three had died by then.

The deceased were identified as five-year-old Aryan Ansari, around six-year-old Nasir Ansari and around six-year-old Amar Sohel.

Aryan was the son of Jasimuddin Ansari, Nasir of Tabarak Ansari and Amar Sohel of Sajawuddin Ansari. All three children belonged to the same village.

Police from Jamtara Sadar police station reached the spot after being informed about the incident and conducted a preliminary inspection. They initiated the process of sending the bodies for postmortem examination.

Police said an investigation was underway to ascertain the circumstances leading to the drowning.

A pall of gloom descended on Chegayadih village following the tragedy. Grief-stricken family members were inconsolable as local residents gathered to offer condolences and support.

The incident comes amid a series of drowning deaths reported across Jharkhand this month. At least 15 people have lost their lives in separate incidents involving ponds, rivers, check dams and other water bodies in the state this month.

On September 23, five people drowned in the Koel River during Karma Puja celebrations in Palamu, while a 16-year-old girl also died during the immersion of a Karam branch in Nani Jharia on the same day.

Other drowning deaths reported in September have occurred in West Singhbhum, Dhanbad, Gumla and Godda districts.