Two Children Drown While Bathing in Teesta Canal in Dimla, Mourning Grips Area.

Mohinul Islam Sujon, Crime Reporter. Two children drowned while bathing in an irrigation canal in Dimla, Nilphamari. The tragic incident occurred at around 10:00am on Monday (August 17) in an irrigation canal in South Kakra village under Nautara Union of the upazila. The deceased were Pakhi Akter, 11, daughter of Abul Hossain of South Kakra village under Nautara Union, and Minha Akter, 4, daughter of Selim of Nijpara (Sonamonir Danga) village in the same union. They were aunt and niece. The incident has cast a pall of grief over the area. According to the family and local residents, the two children went to the irrigation canal to bathe. At one point, Minha fell into the water. When her aunt Pakhi Akter entered the canal to rescue her, she also drowned. A passerby heard their cries and raised the alarm. Hearing the cries, people from nearby areas rushed to the spot and rescued the two children. They were taken to Dimla Upazila Health Complex, where the on-duty doctor declared them dead. Dimla Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shawkat Ali Sarkar confirmed the incident.