Three sisters meet watery grave in Arpa river

 

 

In a heart-rending incident on Monday morning, three sisters from a family tragically lost their lives while taking a bath in the River Arpa. The incident occurred when one of the sisters fell into a ditch created by illegal sand miners, prompting the other two to attempt a rescue. The grieving villagers of Sendri, infuriated by the tragedy and the rampant sand mining, blocked the Bilaspur-Korba Highway. They demanded compensation for the bereaved family and immediate legal action against those responsible for the illegal sand mining activities. The victims have been identified as Puja Patel (18) and Ritu Patel (14), both daughters of Sushil Patel, and their cousin Dhaneshwari Patel (11), daughter of Mandu Patel. The girls, residents of Sendri village, went to the River Arpa for a bath on the fateful morning.

 

While enjoying the water, Dhaneshwari accidentally slipped into a ditch, prompting Puja and Ritu to rush to her aid. Tragically, all three sisters succumbed to the watery grave. The river is riddled with numerous deep pits and ditches caused by illegal sand mining activities. These hazards become even more perilous during rainfall, as the ditches fill with water, making it difficult for people to determine their depth. The incident immediately caught the attention of the local community, who initiated a search for the missing girls and promptly informed the police. In response to the distress call, a team from the Koni Police, accompanied by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), swiftly arrived at the scene. After a protracted effort, the bodies of the three sisters were recovered from the river. The tragic incident and the subsequent discovery of the bodies fueled the anger of the villagers, who staged a demonstration on the Bilaspur-Korba Highway.

 

Their demands included compensation for the grieving families and legal action against those involved in illegal sand mining activities. The protesters also called for accountability from the Mining Department officials, who had thus far failed to take decisive action against the illegal sand miners. Following discussions with the villagers, the authorities managed to mollify their anger and restore traffic on the highway. The Koni Police have taken possession of the bodies and sent them for autopsy, while simultaneously registering a case and commencing investigations based on circumstantial evidence and witness statements.