Three teenage boys drowned in a pond in Agartala’s Badharghat area. CM Dr. Manik Saha expressed deep sorrow and urged administrative action. Locals demand improved safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
A heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded in the Matripalli area of Badharghat, Agartala on Tuesday afternoon when three teenage boys drowned together in a pond near the Agriculture Department office. The incident has plunged the entire locality into deep sorrow and raised serious questions about safety measures in public water bodies.
The deceased teenagers have been identified as Babi Shukla Das (17), Subham Deb (17), and Shubhajit Dey (15). All three were residents of the same neighborhood and were known to be close friends. According to police reports, the trio had gone to the pond to bathe as a way to beat the sweltering heat, unaware of the danger that awaited them beneath the calm surface.
Eyewitnesses informed that the pond, located adjacent to a government office, is unusually deep in several places, which may have contributed to the accident. It is suspected that none of the boys knew how to swim. Tragically, they were sucked into the deeper portion of the pond and could not resurface.
As panic spread among the locals, the Fire and Emergency Services along with Badharghat police rushed to the spot after receiving the distress call. Despite prompt action and a frantic rescue operation, all three bodies were recovered lifeless from the water. They were immediately taken to GBP Hospital where doctors declared them brought dead.
The shocking incident has left the entire Matripalli locality numb with grief. Family members, neighbors, and friends of the deceased were inconsolable as the news spread. A large number of people gathered at the site, mourning the untimely death of the three promising youths.
Soon after the tragedy, local MLA Mina Rani Sarkar visited the site and met the bereaved families. She offered condolences and assured the public that the administration would look into the matter seriously. She also urged the government to take preventive steps to avoid similar incidents in the future.
Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha expressed profound grief over the tragic loss of young lives. In a statement, the Chief Minister said, “I am deeply saddened by the heartbreaking incident of the drowning of three teenagers at Matripalli in Badharghat. I pray to the Almighty to give strength to the grieving families in this difficult time.” He further added that he has directed the concerned administration to take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents and ensure the safety of public water bodies.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Agartala or its surrounding areas. Several drowning incidents have been reported in the past, especially during summer when children and teenagers venture into water bodies for bathing or recreation without adult supervision or adequate knowledge of swimming.
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Local residents have now demanded that warning signs and barricades be installed around ponds and other water bodies, especially those near residential areas and government establishments. Many have also called for community awareness programs and the inclusion of basic swimming lessons in school curriculums to help prevent such disasters in the future.
The administration is expected to carry out a thorough investigation into the incident and consider implementing additional safety protocols. Until then, the tragic deaths of Babi, Subham, and Shubhajit stand as a grim reminder of the dangers lurking in our surroundings.
As the Matripalli area continues to mourn the irreparable loss, the city of Agartala joins in solidarity with the bereaved families, hoping that such sorrow never strikes again.
