Three children died after drowning in a rainwater-filled excavation pit allegedly left open following railway construction work in Dongargarh of Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district on Wednesday evening. The incident has raised serious questions over safety measures at the construction site, with villagers alleging that no barricades or warning signs had been installed around the six-foot-deep pit.

The tragedy occurred in Gandhinagar village under the Bortalav police station limits.

Children Entered Water-Filled Pit While Playing

According to police and local residents, Sarthak Kokote, Krish Mandavi (8) and Danesh Mandavi (6) were playing near their homes on Wednesday evening when they entered the water-filled pit to bathe.

The pit, created after earth excavation for an ongoing railway track and tunnel construction project, had filled with rainwater over the past few days, making it resemble a shallow pond. The children reportedly failed to gauge its depth and drowned.

Villagers later recovered the bodies before informing the police.

Bodies Sent for Post-Mortem

Police reached the spot soon after receiving information and completed the inquest proceedings. The bodies were sent to the Dongargarh Community Health Centre for post-mortem examination.

A detailed investigation has been initiated to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.

Villagers Allege Negligence by Construction Agency

Residents alleged that the excavation was carried out as part of railway infrastructure work between Paniajob and Bortalav railway stations on the Mumbai–Howrah main railway line.

According to villagers, the contractor left the deep excavation open after removing soil, without installing protective barricades, fencing or caution boards. After continuous rainfall, the pit filled with water, posing a hidden danger to local residents, especially children.

They claimed that proper safety measures could have prevented the tragedy.

Teacher Strike Mentioned, No Official Link Confirmed

Some villagers also pointed out that children had remained at home because of the ongoing teachers' strike, which had disrupted the usual school transportation arrangements in the area.

However, authorities have not established any direct link between the strike and the accident, and officials have clarified that the investigation is focused on all aspects of the incident, including possible negligence at the construction site.

Administration Assures Action After Inquiry

The district administration has stated that every aspect of the case will be examined. Officials said that if the investigation finds violations of safety norms or negligence by the construction agency, appropriate legal action will be taken against those responsible.

The incident has once again highlighted concerns over safety compliance at construction sites, particularly during the monsoon season when abandoned excavation pits can become hazardous.