MOTIHARI: Four girls drowned while bathing in a pond in Bihar’s East Champaran district on Friday morning, according to news agency PTI.The incident took place around 9.30 am in Bankat village under Inarwabhar panchayat and Paharpur police station limits.The deceased were identified as sisters Sonawati Kumari (13) and Phoolwati Kumari (10), and Sonali Kumari (10) and Pratibha Kumari (12), all residents of Bankat village.“Five girls had gone to the pond near the village to bathe. Four of them entered the water while one remained standing on the bank. The four girls reportedly ventured into deep waters and drowned,” Paharpur Circle Officer Ramsurat Paswan said.The girl who stayed on the bank alerted villagers, following which police and local administrative officials reached the spot.“We have recovered all four bodies and sent them to Motihari Sadar Hospital for postmortem,” police said.East Champaran District Magistrate Saurabh Suman said, “Once it is formally confirmed post-investigation that the deaths occurred due to drowning, the Disaster Management Department will provide appropriate compensation to the next of kin of the deceased.”
