Pune siblings, aged 10 and 7, found dead in pond hours after they were reported missing

According to the police, the siblings went to play with other children at the Idgah Maidan near their house on Saturday. “Around 4 pm, their mother realised that the two children had not returned home. She immediately started a search. Half an hour later, she informed other villagers who joined the search and alerted the police,” said Kiran Awachar, Inspector, Junnar police station.

“Since it was a case of missing children, we initially feared it was a leopard attack as the area is highly prone to human-leopard conflict. We called the Forest Department officer and wildlife rescue experts to the location. A drone was also used for the search in the area, including farms and areas covered by trees. Around 300 villagers volunteered for the community search in the evening,” the inspector said.

“Late in the evening, the children’s slippers were spotted next to an artificial farm pond in the area. A while later, the bodies of the two siblings were taken out of the water. Primary observations indicate that it is a case of accidental drowning which took place when the children inadvertently entered the water while playing. Further probe is on,” he added.

Officials said the children’s father was informed that they had gone missing, following which he returned home on Sunday. He had gone to Dubai six months ago, and the children had been living with their mother and grandmother in the village.