Nilphamari: Two children drowned while bathing in the Teesta irrigation canal in Dimla upazila of the district on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred at noon in Tuhin Bazar area of Nautara union, as reported by police and local residents.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the deceased were identified as Sinha Akter, 4, daughter of Selim Islam of Nijpara village under Dimla Sadar union, and Pakhi Akter, 11, daughter of Abul Hossain of South Kakra village in Nautara union. The two were aunt and niece. Sinha had gone to visit her maternal grandparents' home in South Kakra village with her mother. Around noon, she went to the nearby Teesta irrigation canal to take a bath with her aunt Pakhi.
During their time in the water, Sinha slipped into a deeper section of the canal. Pakhi attempted to rescue her, but she was also swept into the deeper waters. Local residents, upon noticing the incident, initiated a search of the canal. After an extensive search, they recovered the bodies of the two children.
Confirming the incident, Dimla Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Shawkat Ali Sarker stated that the children were found dead by locals. "After receiving the information, police went to the spot and, following the necessary legal procedures, handed over the bodies to the families," he said.