Bhopal/Barwani, April 23 (IANS) Three siblings drowned while bathing in the Aner River in the Varla police station area of Madhya Pradesh’s Barwani district, said officials on Thursday.

The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday evening. According to police officials, the victims have been identified as Radha, aged 10, Rajveer, aged 8, and Jayveer, aged 6. All three were children of Pawan Brahmane, a resident of Deoli village.

The family had travelled to Bilwa Panali to visit their maternal uncle’s home, where the accident occurred. Their eldest sister, Radhika, was staying at another maternal uncle’s house at the time of the incident and was not present at the riverbank. The children had gone to bathe in the Aner River when they slipped into deeper waters.

Police officials said that while bathing, one of the children drifted into deeper waters and began to drown. In an attempt to save him, a second child entered the water but also began to drown. To rescue both of them, the third child jumped into the river as well, and all three were engulfed by the deep waters.

When the children did not return home by evening, their family members grew concerned. During the search, their father, Pawan Brahmane, discovered the children’s clothes and slippers along the riverbank, intensifying fears that a tragedy had occurred.

Subsequently, a search operation was launched in the river with the assistance of the villagers. After considerable effort, the bodies of the three children were recovered from the river.

Upon receiving the information, the police arrived at the scene, and the bodies were sent to Dhavali Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

A case of accidental death has been registered in the matter, and an investigation has been initiated, the police officials said.

The sudden loss has left the family and the local community in shock, with grief spreading across the village.

–IANS

sktr/dpb