A heartbreaking tragedy struck Churachandpur district of Manipur sending shockwaves in the entire district after four displaced children drowned in the infamous Tuitha river.
The four children displaced by the ongoing conflict in the state were taking refuge at ECA Canan Relief Camp.
The innocent victims identified as siblings Lenchonghoi (9) and Thongkhohao (6), along with their companions Lallenchung Lupho (6) and Thanggouhao (4), ventured to the river's edge yesterday afternoon, March 19 for a routine task of washing at around 2:00 p.m.
Unbeknownst to them, this mundane chore would lead to a devastating loss. In the absence of their parents, they found themselves engulfed by the treacherous Tuitha River.
Throughout the night, rescuers scoured the riverbanks in a desperate search for signs of life. Yet, with the dawn's light, hope turned to despair as the lifeless bodies of two children were recovered, followed shortly by the others, marking the tragic end to the search, plunging the community into profound grief.
The father of the victims said, "Dear children, you were my reason for living, my everything. Why have you been taken from me?" while mourning the loss of his beloved children, his only solace shattered by the merciless grip of the river.
The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by the Tuitha River, which has claimed numerous lives over the years, leaving behind a trail of devastation and heartbreak.
As the community grapples with this latest tragedy, they are reminded once again of the river's merciless unforgiving hands, and the fragility of life that it so callously snatches away.
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