Digapahandi: In a tragic incident, two minor schoolgirls drowned in a pond in Digapahandi block of Odisha's Ganjam district on Tuesday morning.

The victims have been identified as Manini Dora (12) and Pranjali Dora, both Class 7 students and close friends. They were residents of Patanda village under Kusapada panchayat. According to reports, the girls had gone to a nearby pond for bathing, a routine activity in many rural areas. However, the situation turned fatal when they reportedly slipped on the pond’s edge and fell into deeper waters.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that the girls struggled to stay afloat but were unable to rescue themselves. By the time villagers noticed the incident and raised an alarm, precious minutes had already passed.

On receiving information, fire service personnel rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. The girls were eventually pulled out of the pond and immediately shifted to the Digapahandi Community Health Centre. Despite efforts to save them, doctors declared both brought dead.

Locals raise safety concerns near water bodies

As news of the deaths spread, a pall of gloom descended on the village. Local residents also raised concerns about the lack of safety measures around open water bodies in rural areas. Many ponds, often used for daily activities such as bathing and washing, lack protective barriers or warning signs, increasing the risk of such accidents—especially for children. Meanwhile, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the need for greater awareness and precautionary measures to prevent similar accidents in the future.

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