Three young cousins from Chhattisgarh tragically drowned in a water-filled pit at a brick kiln in Dina Patti Tola, Manpur village, under Kasya police station in Kushinagar district on Sunday morning.
Details of the Victims
The victims, children of laborers working at the site with their families, include Abhay, aged 3, son of Panchu from Bilaspur district; Ananya, 7, daughter of Lakhan from Janjgir-Champa district; and Anushka, 3, daughter of Sukhan from Bilaspur district.
What Happened
Police report that the children were playing near a deep pit dug for soil extraction when they slipped into the rainwater-filled crater. A fourth girl child fell in but managed to escape and alert nearby family members.
Family members rushed the children to the Community Health Centre in Kasya, where doctors pronounced them dead on arrival. The incident sparked widespread grief among the kiln workers.
Official Response and Investigation
Station House Officer Ashutosh Singh stated, “The children drowned while playing near the water-filled pit at the brick kiln. Bodies are undergoing post-mortem examination, with investigations into soil extraction permissions and potential negligence in pit safety.”
District Magistrate Mahendra Singh Tanwar directed revenue officials to prepare a report for ex-gratia compensation and administrative support to the families.
Additional District Magistrate Vaibhav Mishra emphasized that trenches in fields must be clearly marked and surrounded by bricks to prevent such tragedies. Police continue to probe the circumstances.
