Northeast Desk, 20th March: Churachandpur district of Manipur was rocked by a heartbreaking tragedy when four displaced children drowned in the notorious Tuitha river, sending shockwaves throughout the entire district.
The innocent victims, identified as siblings Lenchonghoi (9) and Thongkhohao (6), along with their companions Lallenchung Lupho (6) and Thanggouhao (4), were taking refuge at the ECA Canan Relief Camp due to the ongoing conflict in the state.
Yesterday afternoon, March 19, the children ventured to the river’s edge around 2:00 p.m. for a routine task of washing, unaware of the peril that awaited them. In the absence of their parents, they were tragically swept away by the treacherous currents of the Tuitha River.
Despite a night-long search effort by rescuers along the riverbanks, hope turned to despair with the dawn’s light as the lifeless bodies of the children were recovered, marking a devastating end to the search and plunging the community into profound grief.
The father of the victims, mourning the loss of his beloved children, expressed his anguish, questioning why his precious children were taken from him.
This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by the Tuitha River, which has claimed numerous lives over the years, leaving behind a trail of devastation and heartbreak.
As the community mourns this devastating loss, they are reminded once again of the merciless and unforgiving nature of the river, and the fragility of life it so tragically snatches away.