Punjab Newsline | Muktsar
A three-year-old boy died in a tragic drowning incident late Tuesday night in Kotbhai village of Sri Muktsar Sahib district, Punjab. The heartbreaking accident has left the entire village in mourning.
The deceased child has been identified as Fatehveer Singh, son of Bhupinder Singh. According to family members, the child had gone out to play near his house around 5 pm. While passing along the edge of a village pond (locally known as a chhappar), he reportedly slipped and fell into the water.
The pond is located very close to residential houses and is used for the village’s drainage outlet. Villagers alleged that the area has neither a boundary wall nor proper cleaning and maintenance, making it extremely dangerous, especially for children.
When the child did not return home, his family began searching for him and continued the search late into the night. After several hours of looking, they noticed footprints leading towards the pond, raising fears that he may have fallen into it.
Divers were then called to assist in the rescue operation. After hours of efforts, the body of the child was recovered from the pond at around 11 pm.
Family members and local residents blamed the authorities for negligence, stating that the pond was covered with reeds and dense bushes, making it difficult to identify the presence of deep water. They said the overgrown vegetation concealed the danger, and the child could not have realized how deep the pond was.
