Balasore: In a tragic incident, two minor girls drowned while bathing in a pond near Bagachara under Basta police limits, here today.

The deceased have been identified as six-year-old Mama Jena and eight-year-old Anita Parmanik.

According to reports, Mama, a resident of Alumeda village under Singala police limits was visiting her uncle's village during the summer vacation to attend a wedding. She and her cousin, Anita had gone to bathe in the nearby pond at around noon today.

However, both met a watery grave while bathing. Sources said that there was no one around to save the girls when the mishap occurred. When they did not return, family members launched a search to find them and later fished their bodies out of the pond.

They were immediately taken to Balasore District Headquarter Hospital, where the doctor declared them dead.