Two more children drown in rain-battered Kalavad taluka

Rajkot: The spate of drowning incidents in Kalavad taluka of Jamnagar, which was battered by heavy rains, continues unabated.
Two more children drowned in a water-filled pit in Khad Dhoraji village of the taluka late on Monday evening. Earlier on Sunday, five children had drowned in separate incidents reported from the adjoining Kalmeghda village.
Radha Madariya (10) and Sunny Charoliya (10) accidentally fell into the pit while playing outside their house. When they were nowhere to be seen, the families started searching for them and noticed a body floating in the pit. Police were called and both bodies were fished out.
The families of both children work as farm labourers.
Kalavad taluka has received a total seasonal rainfall of 1,498mm, which is 251% of the average annual rainfall. Due to incessant rains, all reservoirs and water bodies are brimming. In the last 24 hours ending Monday too, Kalavad has received 74mm rainfall.
On Sunday, Rahul Thakor (10), his sister Kiran and cousin Riya, both aged five, met similar fate in Kalmeghda village. They fell into the water-filled pit while trying to save themselves from cattle that had run amok.
On the same day, nine-year-old Alpesh Shataji and his six-year-old sister Puna were swept away in turbulent waters flowing over a low-level bridge. They were riding pillion on a bike being driven by Vikram Adivasi. Adivasi was, however, saved by locals.