Team Herald
PANJIM: In a tragic incident on Saturday afternoon, two toddlers drowned in the Salaulim canal near Betmoddi-Bonsai, Curchorem. According to the Curchorem police, the minors, while playing, wandered approximately 50 metres from their rented accommodation and accidentally fell into the canal.
The victims have been identified as 15-month-old Rehan Sadik Shrittey from Karnataka and 18-month-old Wajid Ashpak Hashmi, a native of Uttar Pradesh. After falling into the water, the children were carried away approximately two kilometres from the site of the incident. Fortunately, some locals noticed them and managed to retrieve both children from the water. Their families became aware of their disappearance shortly after they left the area, prompting a frantic search that ultimately led to the discovery of the children in the canal.
Police reported that around 12:30 pm, one body was found, followed by the second shortly thereafter. Both children were shifted to the Curchorem health centre, where they were sadly declared dead.
The two minors belonged to different families residing in a rented room near Betmoddi-Bonsai, Curchorem. The Curchorem stated that families living in rented accommodation often washed clothes near the canal, and the mothers of both victims were regular visitors to this location.
According to the police, approximately 11 families have been living in the area for several months, with most men employed as labourers in Curchorem. On the day of the incident, the housewives were at home while their husbands were at work.
The fathers of the deceased children were labourers in Verna and returned home upon receiving the news. Earlier that morning, the two minors had been playing with eight other children and wandered 50 metres from their rented room and fell into the canal. The police explained that there is a wall at the back of the rented accommodation, making it only 30 metres to the canal; however, the children could not climb the wall and chose to approach the canal from the front.
Authorities suspect that the children may have accidentally fallen into the water. A passer-by spotted the children floating in the canal at Betmaddi and alerted local villagers. Medical personnel declared both children dead after their bodies were retrieved and taken to the hospital.
The Curchorem police received a call from an individual named Augustino, informing them of the drowning incident. Upon investigation, police visited the Curchorem Community Health Centre, where the doctor on duty confirmed that both toddlers were brought in deceased. The bodies have been preserved at SGDH Margao for medico-legal formalities. PSI Arun Endro, who is investigating the case, visited the scene and conducted a panchanama and recorded the statements from Rehan's mother and others involved.