Assam: Three minor girls drown in Goalpara, allegations of negligence stir local outrage

Three minor girls tragically drowned in a water-filled pit in the middle of a paddy field at Dhaigaon-Bollagaon under Krishnai Police Station in Assam’s Goalpara district on Wednesday evening.

The deceased were identified as Shabita Begum (13) and Charjina Begum (7), daughters of Shameer Ali, and their cousin Azmina Begum (12), who was residing at her uncle’s home for schooling purposes. All three were reported to be playing near the fields until around 3 p.m. When Shameer Ali returned home from work and found the children missing, a frantic search was launched by family members and villagers.

Tragically, the lifeless bodies of the three girls were recovered around 9 p.m. from a deep water-filled pit, described by villagers as a pond-like hole dug in the middle of the paddy field. The discovery left the family and community devastated.

Officials from the Krishnai Police Station, along with the Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) and the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Border), visited the location. The bodies were subsequently sent to Goalpara Civil Hospital for postmortem examination.

Local residents have blamed the incident on alleged negligence, accusing the field’s owner of digging the large pit without any safety measures or fencing. The villagers have demanded that authorities investigate the matter thoroughly and take strict action against those responsible for creating such hazardous conditions.