Chatra (Jharkhand), Sep 4 (IANS) Panic gripped a village in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Friday after the bodies of two children were recovered from the Kodagu Pater River near Ghuranadih village under Sadar police station limits.
While one body was found in the river current, the other was recovered from the riverbank, officials said.
The identities of the children are yet to be established. They ranged from eight to ten years of age. Police are also searching for a third child who is believed to have been with them.
According to preliminary information, three friends had gone to the river in the morning for a picnic. They reportedly cooked and ate pasta before entering the river for a bath. During the swim, the children are suspected to have ventured into deep water and drowned.
After locals were alerted about the incident, villagers rushed to the spot and informed the police upon spotting the bodies. A police team reached the scene and, with the help of residents, recovered the two bodies from the river.
The bodies have been taken into custody, and efforts are underway to identify the victims.
Police are also gathering information from nearby villages to ascertain their identities.
Officials said the situation regarding the third child remains unclear. While there are fears that he may also have drowned, investigators are examining the possibility that he managed to come out of the river and left the area.
Search operations are still continuing at and around the site.
During the search, police recovered two bicycles, three pairs of slippers, two bags and other belongings from the area. These items are being used to help identify the children.
The bodies are being sent for postmortem examination, and police said a clearer picture of the incident will emerge after the investigation and autopsy reports are completed.
–IANS
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