Nine-year-old boy drowns in Thoubal River in Manipur

Imphal: A nine-year-old boy slipped into the river and the strong current swept him away on Sunday afternoon at the Thoubal River, the river of sorrow in the monsoon seasons in the southern part of the state.

His body was recovered by the State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF) from the Thoubal River on Monday at around 11 am, officials said.

Laishram Wangthoi Meitei, 9, a resident of Thoubal Kiyam Siphai in Manipur’s Thoubal district and son of L Kington slipped into the river when he tried to catch one of his shoes and was swept away by the strong current water.

The incident happened when he tried to wash himself after playing a football match with his friends.

Four of his friends were also washing at the riparian zone and had seen the tragic incident in which the boy cried for help in troubled water.

In fear, they managed to flee from the scene and went to their homes without stating the incident to their parents.

Due to rains for the past few days, the water level of the rivers in Manipur is high with strong currents.