Berhampur, April 7: In a tragic incident, two minor girls drowned in a pond at Patanda village under Digapahandi block in Ganjam district on Tuesday morning.

According to reports, the victims, both studying in Class VII, had gone to a nearby pond to bathe. During the process, one of the girls, identified as 13-year-old Manini, accidentally slipped and drowned. In an attempt to save her, her friend Pranjali jumped into the water but also drowned.

On being alerted, local residents, along with fire services personnel, rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. The two girls were pulled out of the pond in a critical condition and immediately taken to Digapahandi Medical.

However, doctors declared both of them dead on arrival.

The incident has plunged the village into deep mourning, with grief-stricken family members and residents in shock over the untimely loss of the two young lives.