Four young girls tragically drowned in a lake in Meherpur while reportedly gathering water lilies. The incident took place at Mashuribhaja Beel in Baradi, Meherpur sadar upazila this afternoon.
The girls were identified as Fatema Khatun, 14, and Afia, 10, daughters of Samad; Mim, 14, daughter of Isa Ali; and Aleya, 10, daughter of Saharul. Fatema and Mim attended Mominpur High School, while Afia and Aleya were students at Rajnagar Government Primary School.
According to Sumaiya Jahan Jhurka, assistant commissioner (land) of Meherpur Sadar upazila, locals suspect that the girls drowned while collecting water lilies. The bodies were first spotted by residents around 4:30 pm, with the Fire service recovering one and the locals recovering the others.
Two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene and were not taken to the hospital, while the other two were declared dead upon arrival by doctors. Mesbauddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Meherpur Sadar Police Station, confirmed the deaths and mentioned that an investigation is currently underway.