A nine-year-old boy has died after drowning in a pond in Tsirang. Sources say the incident occurred at around 5.30 PM on Wednesday. The incident raises concerns about the safety of unfenced water bodies in farming communities.
The young boy, a class-three student, drowned in a privately-owned pond located about a kilometre away from his home. According to sources, the boy and a friend were walking to a nearby paddy field when the incident occurred.
The pond, which had recently filled due to continuous rainfall, had no fencing or warning signs.
The friend tried to save him but was unsuccessful. He then ran to nearby residents for help. Despite immediate attempts, villagers could not locate the child in the water.
The case was then reported to the police, who later retrieved the body. Police ruled out foul play and suspect the deceased slipped due to the slippery path.
The pond was initially developed in 2023 by a private landowner as part of an agricultural land development project intended for water harvesting.
Until recently, it had remained dry due to a lack of inflow, according to local officials.
“Our child lost his life in the accident, and we cannot bring him back. But going forward, the landowner should put preventative measures in place as the pond is located near the farm road,” said a relative who did not want to be named.
BBS tried to contact the landowner for comment, but he could not be reached.
Following directives from the Tsirang district administration and police, the pond has since been refilled with soil to prevent future incidents.
The tragedy highlights broader concerns about the safety of unattended water bodies not just in Tsirang, but across the country, especially in rural areas where such risks often go unnoticed until it’s too late.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
