Pratapgarh: A tragic incident occurred in Uttar Pradesh’s Pratapgarh district on Thursday morning, where four minor girls drowned in the Bakulahi River. The victims, three sisters and their cousin, had gone to collect clay for household use near Cheti Singh Ka Purwa in the Kunda Kotwali area.

The deceased were identified as Swati (13), Sandhya (11), and Chandni (6), daughters of Jeetlal, and Priyanshi (7), daughter of Prithvipal. According to locals, the girls ventured into the river to gather mud used for kitchen and wall plastering. They accidentally stepped into a deep pit and drowned.

Police from Maheshganj and Kunda reached the scene following an alert. A revenue department team led by Naib Tehsildar Ajay Singh also arrived. The bodies were recovered by villagers shortly after the incident.

Villagers alleged that the riverbed had been illegally excavated using JCB machines to sell soil, leaving dangerous trenches. These, they claim, became death traps for the children. The tragedy has triggered widespread anger in the village.

Local MLA Raghuraj Pratap Singh (Raja Bhaiya) met the grieving families. Superintendent of Police Dr. Anil Kumar also visited the site for inspection.