In a tragic mishap, two minor girls drowned in a pond at Atri village in Khordah district on Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Arati Behera (4), daughter of Ramesh Kumar Behera and Puspanjali Behera, daughter of Kanhu Charan Behera.
Sources said one Chanchala Behera had made the two kids sit on the pond embankment and gone to attend nature’s call. But the two were missing when she returned.
Chanchala soon called villagers and informed them about the incident. After a brief search, the two girls were found under the water. They were rushed to the nearby Government hospital where doctors declared them brought dead. The locals have demanded compensation for the kin of the deceased.