Four children drown

BALASORE: A pall of gloom descended Astapal and Birianh villages under Oupada police limits in Balasore district on Sunday following death of four children, including two siblings.Police said the children identified as Prasanna Parida (12), his brother Prahallad Parida (11), Satya Ranjan Katual (11) of Astapal and Satyabrata Jena (11) of Birianh drowned when they were taking bath in a pit near Rangamatia at Ranipokhari hill. While Prasanna was studying in Class-VII, the other three were studying in Class-VI.OIC of Oupada police station Jogeswar Mahanta said altogether five children had gone there in between 12 noon and 1 pm. “The four drowned one after another while taking bath. Though the other child informed about the mishap to the local villagers, they all had died before being rescued,” he said.