Two friends drown in Ujjain village pond:Bodies were recovered during rescue operation

Two friends died after drowning in a farm pond in Chiroli village under the Bhatpachlana police station area of Ujjain district. The incident has left the village in mourning. After receiving information about the drowning on Wednesday morning, local divers launched a rescue operation. However, the bodies of both youths were recovered only by the afternoon. The deceased have been identified as 16-year-old Ajay Bairagi, son of Suman Das Bairagi, and 20-year-old Kamal Mali, son of Hiralal Mali. Both were residents of Chiroli village and were close friends. Families reported them missing after they failed to return home According to family members, the two left their homes at around 9 am on Tuesday but did not return by late evening. Relatives initially believed they had gone to watch a night cricket match being held in the village. However, when they failed to return home even by midnight, family members became concerned and informed the Bhatpachlana Police. Search began after belongings were found near the pond After receiving the missing persons report, Station House Officer Satyendra Chaudhary alerted nearby areas and initiated a search, but no trace of the youths was found overnight. On Wednesday morning, a passer-by noticed a motorcycle, a mobile phone and two pairs of slippers lying outside a farm pond belonging to a local landowner in Chiroli. He immediately informed the police. Police officers reached the spot and, with the help of local divers, began a search operation in the pond. After extensive efforts, the bodies of both youths were recovered from the water. NDRF team was called, but rescue came too late Station House Officer Satyendra Chaudhary said that an NDRF team had also been called from Ujjain after information about the missing youths was received. However, by the time rescue efforts intensified, it was too late to save them. The bodies were recovered and further legal procedures were initiated by the police.