3 children drown in brick kiln pit in Muzaffarnagar

AGRA: Three children drowned in a pit filled with rainwater while playing at a brick kiln in Muzaffarnagar's Budhana area on Monday afternoon.

According to police, two brothers -- Faisal Khan (6) and Asad Khan (9), along with their cousin Ahsan Khan (10) and two others were playing near the pit when they fell into it. On getting information, police rushed to the spot and conducted an inquiry into the matter. Deputy SP Vinay Kumar Gautam said that five children were playing near the brick kiln and when three of them tried to take a bath in the pit, they drowned in the deep water. After conducting necessary formalities, the bodies were handed over to their family. Budhan police station SHO Brijesh Kumar said, "The incident happened at a brick kiln in Dabheri village. Their families denied further action in the matter and gave a written complaint as they did not want us to conduct a post-mortem of the bodies."

Sher Khan, an uncle of the victims, told TOI, "My nephews had gone to a brick kiln while playing in the rain and did not know that there was a deep pit and all three fell into the water. After the incident, some kids informed us, but it was too late. Action should be taken against the management of the brick kiln." The village's former head, Parvez Khan, said, "The victims' fathers are farmers, and the deceased studied at a primary school in the village."