Family Mourns Loss of Three Kids Swept by Ghonga River

Samdil village in the Takhatpur area is cloaked in mourning after the Ghonga River claimed three young lives on Saturday night. The victims – Anmol (7), Shiksha (8) and Stuti (9) – were brothers and cousins belonging to a single family.

The trio had finished school and chose a shortcut that required a brief river crossing. Without warning, the water surged, pulling the children into its swift current. Witnesses reported hearing cries before the river disappeared downstream.

Local residents, together with police officials, launched a frantic search operation. The State Disaster Response Force arrived on the scene and kept the river under surveillance, using boats and rescue gear to locate the missing bodies.

By Sunday morning, the SDRF succeeded in retrieving all three bodies, confirming the worst fears of the grieving family. The community has gathered for prayers, and many households have lit candles to honour the memory of the lost children.

Both Anmol and his sisters were regular students – Anmol in kindergarten, while Shiksha and Stuti attended third grade. The tragedy has reignited discussions about river safety measures and the need for proper crossing infrastructure in rural Chhattisgarh.