Three friends drown in Shahdol pond, one under treatment; inquiry committee formed

A tragic accident occurred on Monday night in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh. Three young friends drowned in a pond behind the well-known Chaupati area near the city's main market. One youth was rescued. The incident caused panic across the area.

According to information provided by the police, the dead are Sameer Vanshkar, Gaurav Vanshkar and Durgesh Vanshkar. Pushpendra Vanshkar survived and is being treated at the district hospital.

According to local residents, the four friends were sitting at the edge of the pond near Chaupati at around 8 pm on Monday. At that moment a police patrol vehicle arrived. People say the youths panicked on seeing the police vehicle and, in their hurry to flee, jumped straight into the pond. Not knowing the depth of the water, three of them drowned.

After the accident, all four were pulled out of the pond immediately and taken to the district hospital, but after examination doctors declared three of them dead. On receiving the news, relatives of the deceased and local residents reached the district hospital in large numbers. Those present raised slogans against the police and insisted on a fair and thorough inquiry.

Shahdol Superintendent of Police Rajendra Mohan Dubey confirmed the deaths of the three youths by drowning. He said an inquiry is under way into the circumstances in which the youths fell into the water.

Given the seriousness of the matter, the Collector has immediately constituted a three-member inquiry committee. It comprises an Additional Superintendent of Police, an Additional Collector and the Civil Surgeon. The committee will examine every aspect of the incident in depth and submit its report.

The administration has also announced immediate financial assistance of Rs 25,000 per family for the bereaved families. The real truth behind the accident will emerge only after the inquiry report is submitted.