Patna, Aug 7 (IANS) A tragic incident was reported from Bihar’s East Champaran district, where a woman and her four children are feared to have drowned in a pond under the Govindganj police station area in the Areraj subdivision, police said on Friday.

The incident triggered panic in the area, with a large number of villagers gathering at the spot.

Police and civil administration officials reached the site and launched an investigation.

With the help of local residents, four bodies, including that of the woman, were recovered from the pond, while efforts were continuing to trace the fifth victim.

According to local residents, the deceased include the woman, two sons and two daughters.

However, police said the identities of all the victims and the total number of casualties would be confirmed only after the completion of the recovery operation and official verification.

The deceased woman has been identified as Sushila Devi, wife of Dharmendra Mahto and a resident of Ward number-6 of Babhnauli Panchayat.

The incident has left the family devastated, and a pall of gloom has descended over the village.

The circumstances leading to the drowning remain unclear.

Some villagers suspect the incident may be linked to a family dispute, while others believe the woman and her children may have accidentally fallen into the pond while she had gone to collect fodder for livestock.

Police said all possible angles are being examined and no conclusion has been reached at this stage.

Following the incident, the Areraj Circle Officer and officials from the Govindganj police station reached the spot.

The recovered bodies have been taken into custody for post-mortem examination, and legal formalities are underway.

Search operations for the missing victim are continuing with the assistance of divers and local residents.

Police officials said the exact cause of the incident would be determined only after the investigation is completed and statements of the family members and other witnesses are recorded.

The administration has appealed to the public not to spread or believe rumours and to rely only on official information as the investigation progresses.

–IANS

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