Madhya Pradesh: Seven boys drown in pond

Seven boys drowned in a pond at Laluatora area in the district today, police said. The group of teenagers had gone to the pond in Laluatora, nearly 15 kms from here, for bathing. Initial investigations suggest that they slipped into the deep water and drowned, Guna Police Station inspector Vivek Asthana said.

He said one body was seen floating in the pond in the evening while clothes of some of the other boys were also found near the water body.

Soon after receiving an alert, police pressed into service divers and fished out the remaining bodies.

The deceased were identified as—Tillu Kushwaha (14), Hemant Kori (12), Dilip Kushwaha (12), Vikas Kori (13), Karan (10), Gollu Kori (12) and Anand Kushwaha—all residents of Piprauda village, the officer said, adding that the bodies have beeb sent for postmortem.

Meanwhile, Guna MP and Congress chief whip in the Lok Sabha, Jyotiraditya Scindia, has asked the district authority to immediately provide financial aid to the families of the deceased.

He also said officials should take steps to ensure that such tragedy does not occur again.