6 kids drown as SUV falls into pond in Araria

PATNA: At least six children drowned after the SUV in which they were travelling fell into a roadside pond at Sukhsaina under the Tarabari police station area in Araria district at around 7am on Tuesday.
Tarabari SHO Mahboob Alam said the deceased were identified as Uneet Kumar (8), Naina Kumari (6), Karan Kumar (8), Mithun Kumar (7), Ajay Kumar (12) and Nitesh Rishidev (15).“Uneet and Naina were siblings and all of them belonged to Boriyare village under the Bounsi police station area in the district,” he said.
The SHO said Monu Kumar (8) was rescued from the SUV which had submerged in the pond. “Mithun’s father Gireshwar Singh (35), who was also in the SUV, managed to come out on his own,” he said.
“The incident took place when a child suddenly came on the road while plucking mango from a roadside tree. The driver applied brakes and lost control of the SUV, which collided with a tree and fell into the roadside pond.
The SHO said the children and others were returning after attending a marriage ceremony at Chinki village under the Kursa Kanta police station area in the same district. “The driver fled from the spot. The bodies, along with the SUV, were fished out from the pond,” he said.
“Gireshwar has submitted a written complaint with the Tarabara police station that the accident took place while trying to save a minor who had suddenly come on the road,” he said.
Araria DM Himanshu Sharma said Rs4 lakh ex gratia would be paid to the next of kin of every deceased. “The administration will extent all necessary assistance to the affected families,” he added.