3 children dead as deadly unguarded pits around Sidli Beel trigger alarm in Assam’s Goalpara

Three young children tragically lost their lives on Saturday afternoon after accidentally falling into a water-filled pit in Assam’s Goalpara district, police and local sources confirmed.

The heartbreaking incident occurred at the No. 1 Camp locality in Matia near Sidli Beel, casting a pall of grief over the tight-knit community.

The victims, identified as Janti Changma (5), Neha Changma (3) and Ayus Marak (3), were all minors from adjacent households in the area. Two of the children, Janti and Neha, were siblings and residents of the same family, while Ayus belonged to a neighbouring household, relatives said.

According to preliminary police reports, the three children had gone out to play near the pit, which had become filled with rainwater. At around midday, they allegedly slipped and fell into the waterlogged hole. The depth and suddenness of their fall made it difficult for bystanders to rescue them quickly.

Locals raised the alarm after the children failed to return home, prompting a frantic search operation.

“We were outside playing when they suddenly went missing. Upon searching, we found them submerged in the pit,” a relative of one of the children told reporters. Emergency responders were alerted immediately, and the children were quickly pulled out of the water.

Despite efforts to rush them to the nearest government medical facility, doctors declared all three children dead on arrival. The grieving families were informed at the hospital, leaving neighbours and relatives in shock and mourning.

Senior Superintendent of Police Navaneet Mahanta said that police suspect drowning as the primary cause of the fatalities.

An investigation has been launched to ascertain the exact circumstances of the tragedy, and a formal case has been registered. The bodies of the children have been sent for post-mortem examination as part of the ongoing probe.

Residents of No. 1 Camp expressed deep sadness over the loss and raised concerns about safety standards around water-filled pits in the area.

Locals said that several such unprotected holes dot the landscape around Sidli Beel, especially after recent rains, and criticised the lack of barriers or warning signs to prevent accidental falls.

“Parents are distraught. We had warned that these pits were dangerous, but nothing was done. This tragedy should be a wake-up call,” a community leader said. Calls are now growing for authorities to map and secure similar sites to prevent further accidents.

Officials have assured the community that steps will be taken not only to complete the investigation but also to consider safety recommendations aimed at avoiding such heartbreaking incidents in the future.