Bathing to beat the heat, 2 cousin teens drown in sludge-filled farm tank in Jaisalmer

JAISALMER: In a tragic incident in Chundhi village of Jaisalmer, two cousin brothers drowned after getting trapped in sludge while bathing in a farm water tank to escape the intense heat on Monday late evening.

The deceased have been identified as Surendra (17) and Virendra (16). Family members rushed both to Jawahir Hospital, where doctors declared them dead.

According to the family, the boys used to bathe regularly in the water tank, but on Monday they got stuck in the muddy sludge and drowned. The incident has left the family devastated.

ASI Mukesh Beera of Sadar Police Station said that the two cousins had gone to bathe in a water tank built in their field along with two other brothers, Mukesh and Ravi. While bathing, Surendra and Virendra moved towards the deeper part of the tank, where they got trapped in thick mud and silt.

Mukesh and Ravi tried to rescue them, risking their own lives, but were unable to pull them out of the sludge. In panic, Mukesh ran back to the village to inform the family.

On receiving the information, villagers and family members rushed to the spot. After much effort, Surendra was pulled out and taken to the hospital, but he was declared dead. Meanwhile, Virendra had completely sunk into the deep sludge and was not visible on the surface.

Villagers then broke one side of the tank wall to drain the water. As the water level decreased, Virendra’s body was also recovered. He was also taken to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Both the deceased belonged to the Bhil community and were cousins. The sudden loss of two young members on the same day has left the family inconsolable, and a pall of gloom has descended over the village.

Sadar police reached the hospital after receiving the information. The family refused to conduct post-mortem examinations, following which the police completed formalities and handed over the bodies to the family.