In a heartbreaking incident, two young children lost their lives after a sand mound collapsed on them in Kalyanpur on Thursday afternoon. The tragedy occurred at Manikchandra Para in Prem Sing ADC Village under Kalyanpur Police Station, casting a pall of grief and anger across the locality.
According to local sources, three children were playing near a large sand heap kept beside their home. The mound, part of an old and loosely piled sand quarry, suddenly gave way. Within seconds, a massive amount of sand collapsed and buried all three children underneath. Witnesses said the incident happened so quickly that none of the children could escape.
The fathers of two of the children, who were nearby, rushed to the spot and desperately attempted to rescue them. With the help of locals, they managed to pull all three out from beneath the sand. The children were immediately taken to the Kalyanpur Community Health Centre. However, doctors declared two of them dead on arrival. The third child, who sustained serious injuries, was referred to Khowai District Hospital in critical condition.
The incident has triggered widespread sorrow, along with rising outrage among residents. Locals alleged that illegal and unscientific sand mining has been operating in the area for a long time, continuing unchecked due to administrative negligence. They claimed that proper monitoring and enforcement could have prevented such a devastating accident.
Upon receiving information, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer and the Officer-in-Charge of Kalyanpur Police Station reached the site and began an investigation. Police officials stated that legal action would be initiated against those involved in the illegal sand mining operations.
Residents, however, question whether timely intervention by authorities could have saved the innocent lives. They demand that the tragedy should not remain confined to paperwork and that strict steps must be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
