Ahmedabad: While Holi and Dhulendi celebrations were underway across the country and Gujarat, tragedy struck in two districts of the state as five people drowned in separate incidents while bathing after playing with colours.

In Surat district’s Mangrol taluka, three youths drowned in the Kim river near Pansara village. According to reports, they had been celebrating Dhulendi since morning and later went to the nearby river to wash off colours.

While bathing, the three accidentally ventured into deep water and drowned. Local residents and swimmers rushed to the spot after hearing cries for help.

The deceased have been identified as Chandrabhushan Singh, Happy Singh and Sanjay Dhanji Mangukiya. Fire brigade personnel and Kosamba police recovered the bodies after a search operation. Police said two of the deceased were migrants while one was a local resident. A case of accidental death has been registered and further investigation is underway.

In another incident, two minor cousins drowned in a village pond in Nava (Jambu Fali) village of Malpur taluka in Aravalli district.

The victims, Raychand Damor and Jaimin Damor, were students of Classes 5 and 6. After playing Dhulendi, they went to the village pond to wash off colours but slipped into deep water and drowned.

A team from the Modasa Fire Brigade recovered the bodies and handed them over to police. Malpur police have sent the bodies for post-mortem at the Community Health Centre and initiated further investigation. DeshGujarat