Malkangiri/Chitrakonda: In a tragic incident, two minor girls from Kenduguda village under Nakamamudi panchayat and Korukonda block in Malkangiri district drowned in the Balimela reservoir Thursday. The bodies of the deceased girls, identified as Sabitri Muduli, 7, daughter of Saniya Muduli and Dabili Kadangia, 7, daughter of Dhanu Kadangia of Kenduguda village, were recovered Friday. According to reports, the deceased duo along with two other minor girls of the village had gone to the Balimela reservoir to take a bath Thursday afternoon.
While bathing, Sabitri and Dabili went missing in the deep water. The villagers then launched a search operation in the reservoir but could not trace the missing girls. The family members of the missing girls then informed the police and Fire brigade at Chitrakonda. Chitrakonda police along with the Fire personnel reached the spot Friday morning and after launching a search operation along with the villagers, the bodies of the two missing girls were fished out of the reservoir and sent for post-mortem. Police registered a case of unnatural death and handed over the bodies of the deceased girls to their family members. A pall of gloom prevailed on the locality after the tragedy occurred.