Teen drowns in Chümoukedima pond

DIMAPUR — A 19-year-old boy drowned in a pond at 5th Mile Model Village in Chümoukedima district on Saturday evening.

The commander of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Chümoukedima, Angukato K Yeptho, informed that the unit received a distress call at around 6 pm and reached the site within 20 minutes.

After an extended search, the body was recovered at around 7:49 pm.

Yeptho said the operation was challenging due to the depth of the pond, which required a deep-diving effort. The victim was identified as P Lakhum of Hukir village in Shamator district.

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He was reportedly undergoing carpenter training. According to reports, Lakhum had gone swimming with friends at around 3 pm before the tragedy occurred.

Issuing a safety advisory, Yeptho urged citizens to stay away from rivers and water bodies during the monsoon, when elevated water levels increase drowning risks.

He also cautioned parents not to allow children to swim or play in rivers, adding that contact with contaminated water could also cause waterborne diseases.