Three teenagers drown in pond in Jharkhand

Three teenaged girls drowned in a pond Friday in Jharkhand's Palamu district while immersing puja 'samagri' (items), a senior police officer said.

A group of six girls had gone to the pond at Loharsi village in the district in the morning after performing Karma puja, he said.

The girls - one of them married - probably lost balance in the swampy part of the pond, Superintendent of Police Indrajeet Mahatha said, adding that local villagers rushed to their rescue after hearing them scream.

"The locals were able to move three girls to safety, but the other three drowned," the SP stated, adding that those rescued were undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital.