A tragic accident claimed the lives of two young children after they drowned in a historic stepwell inside the ancient Chaturbhuji Temple complex at Kumbhargarh village in Chhattisgarh's Raipur district on Saturday morning. The incident occurred under the Dharsiwa police station limits and has sparked renewed demands from local residents for improved safety measures around the deep water structure.

According to police, the victims have been identified as Sakshi Sahu (7) and Shravan Dheewar (4), both residents of Kurra village in Dharsiwa. The children were reportedly playing near the temple premises when they accidentally slipped into the stepwell and drowned.

Children Fell Into Deep Water

Police officials said the children had gone to the temple complex along with other youngsters on Saturday morning. While playing, they reached the edge of the ancient stepwell, where they are believed to have lost their balance and fallen into the deep water.

When the children could not be found for an extended period, family members and villagers began searching for them. Their search eventually led them to the stepwell.

Divers and local residents joined the rescue effort and recovered both children from the water. However, by the time they were brought out, they had already died.

Police Launch Investigation

Dharsiwa Police reached the spot soon after receiving information about the incident. The bodies were taken into custody and sent for post-mortem examination.

Station House Officer (TI) Rajendra Diwan said a case of accidental death has been registered, and an investigation has been initiated to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

The incident has left the entire village in mourning, with grieving families and residents gathering at the temple complex following the accident.

Villagers Raise Safety Concerns

Following the incident, local residents expressed anger over the lack of safety arrangements around the historic stepwell.

Villagers said the centuries-old structure contains deep water throughout the year but lacks adequate protective infrastructure. According to them, there is no strong boundary wall, fencing or protective grill around the stepwell, nor are there warning signs cautioning visitors about the danger.

Residents claimed they had previously urged authorities to strengthen safety measures at the site, but no concrete action had been taken.

Demand for Protective Measures

After the deaths, villagers have appealed to the district administration to immediately secure the area by constructing protective walls or installing iron grills around the stepwell. They have also demanded the installation of warning boards to alert visitors, particularly children, about the potential danger.

Residents believe such measures are essential to prevent similar tragedies in the future, especially as the temple attracts local devotees and children frequently visit the premises.

Authorities are expected to review the safety arrangements at the site as the police investigation into the incident continues.