Two students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district were found dead after allegedly drowning in a pond located within the school campus, triggering serious concerns over safety and supervision at the fully residential institution.

The victims have been identified as Pragyan Vimal (15), a Class 10 student, and Roshan Baretha (14), who studied in Class 9. While Pragyan's body was recovered floating in the pond early Tuesday morning, Roshan's body was found nearly 21 hours after the incident following an extensive search operation by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local divers.

Students Went Missing from Hostel

According to police, both students went missing from their hostel on Monday evening. When they failed to return to their rooms, school authorities informed the police.

A search operation was immediately launched by the Ghatia police. Officers examined CCTV footage from the campus and questioned fellow students, but no trace of the boys was found during the night.

The search resumed on Tuesday morning after information was received about a body floating in a pond situated near the school's boundary.

Bodies Recovered During Rescue Operation

At around 6 a.m., villagers alerted authorities after spotting a body floating in the pond. The body was recovered and identified as Pragyan Vimal. His remains were sent to the district hospital for post-mortem examination.

The search for Roshan continued throughout the day. SDRF personnel, assisted by local divers, eventually recovered his body approximately 21 hours after the incident. Both bodies have been shifted to the mortuary and will be handed over to their families after post-mortem formalities.

Safety Measures Under Scrutiny

The incident has raised questions over the security arrangements at the residential school. Authorities are investigating how two minor students managed to leave their hostel rooms unnoticed during the night.

Family members and local residents have alleged lapses in night roll-call procedures, hostel supervision, and campus security. They have demanded accountability if negligence by the school administration is established.

Police officials said further action will depend on the findings of the post-mortem reports and the ongoing investigation. If any negligence on the part of the school management is confirmed, legal action will be initiated against those responsible.

Family Mourns Personal Loss

Pragyan Vimal's death has deeply affected his family. He was the only brother among three sisters and had lost both his parents earlier. Following his father's death, his elder sister received a compassionate government appointment and had been supporting his education while he studied at the Navodaya school.

Authorities are continuing the investigation to determine the exact circumstances that led to the tragic deaths.