Tikamgarh (Madhya Pradesh), June 11 (IANS) Three children lost their lives while saving a drowning boy in a pond in Madhya Pradesh’s Tikamgarh district, turning an act of bravery into a heartbreaking tragedy that has left an entire village in mourning.

The incident occurred at Siddh Sagar Pond near the Astaun police outpost on Thursday.

According to police, a 13-year-old boy, identified as Dev, was bathing in the pond when he slipped into deep water and began to drown.

On noticing him struggling in the water, three children — Prince Ahirwar (11), Deepesh Ahirwar (10) and Raj Ahirwar (12) — rushed to his aid and jumped into the pond without hesitation.

Officials said the three boys managed to save Dev and bring him out of danger. However, during the rescue operation, they themselves got trapped in a deeper portion of the pond and drowned.

Villagers later spotted the bodies floating in the water and immediately informed the police and local administration.

The news spread rapidly through the village, drawing large crowds to the pond and triggering scenes of grief.

Police and administrative officials reached the spot soon after receiving information and launched a recovery operation. The bodies were retrieved from the pond and sent for post-mortem examination.

After legal formalities were completed, the bodies were handed over to the bereaved families.

Confirming the incident, a senior police official in Tikamgarh told reporters that Dev survived the incident and is safe.

Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the incident. Preliminary findings indicate that the children drowned accidentally while attempting to rescue the boy.

The tragedy has also renewed concerns over safety measures at ponds and other water bodies, particularly during the summer season when children often gather for bathing and swimming.

Residents have called for greater awareness and precautionary measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

–IANS

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