Two toddlers drown in open canal at Curchorem

Margao/Canacona: Two toddlers drowned in an open canal at Carremoddi, Curchorem, on Saturday. The toddlers –– Rehan Shrittey and Wahid Hashmi –– were aged 15 months and 18 months, respectively. They lived with their families in rented premises about 5 minutes away. It is suspected that they were playing outside their house when the incident occurred between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.

A passerby Augustino noticed the children lifeless in the canal and informed police. The children were taken to the community health centre in Curchorem. Both were declared brought dead, and their bodies have been preserved at South Goa District Hospital, Margao, for medico-legal formalities.

The open canal was an internal one that supplied water to fields. The water level was very low, but the toddlers drowned. Locals expressed shock and deep grief at the fate the toddlers met.

Families of both children were residing at Davarsheth, Xeldem, Quepem. While Rehan’s family are natives of Uttar Pradesh, Wahid’s family hails from Karnataka.

Curchorem PI Tukaram Chawan registered unnatural deaths and further investigation is in progress.