Agartala, May 20, 2025: Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha on Sunday stood beside the bereaved family of two young siblings who tragically drowned in a water-filled construction pit in the Chanmari area of East Agartala. The Chief Minister visited the family’s original residence in Jirania to personally express his condolences and announced a financial assistance of ₹8 lakh from the state government.

“This is a heartbreaking incident. Words fall short in the face of such loss. We stand firmly with the grieving family,” said the Chief Minister while addressing the media. “A total of ₹8 lakh has been provided—this includes assistance from the state and the Disaster Management Department.”

The deceased, Prosenjit Debnath (11) and Priyanka Debnath (7), were found dead yesterday morning in a deep waterlogged pit that had been dug for construction purposes. The children had been missing since Saturday. Their frozen bodies were recovered together, revealing the devastating conclusion to the search.

Dr. Saha stated, “The siblings drowned while playing near the pit. From what we’ve learned, one may have tried to rescue the other. They had recently moved to the Chanmari area, though their native home is in Jirania.”

The Chief Minister, accompanied by local MLA and Transport and Tourism Minister Sushant Chowdhury, West Tripura DM Vishal Kumar, and other officials, met with the children’s father Krishna Debnath, a daily wage earner, and other family members. He assured them of further support.

“We are also exploring how the government can help the family’s eldest daughter, who is currently in Class 12,” Dr. Saha added. “Minister Sushanta Chowdhury has been directed to take necessary steps in this regard.”

In a heartfelt social media post, the Chief Minister wrote, “May the Almighty give the family the strength to bear this immeasurable pain. The government is with them in this hour of grief.”