3 girls die after being washed away by swirling river water in Jammu

Three girls died after being washed away by the swirling waters of a river in the outskirts of Jammu city, police said today.

Six girls, in an age group of eight to 14 years, were bathing in a the river at Jajjar Kotli belt last evening, when suddenly the water level rose and they were washed away by the strong currents, a police officer said.

Three girls were rescued in an injured state and were hospitalised. The bodies of the other three -- Nimita, Niharika and Joyti -- were recovered in a rescue operation launched by the locals and police, he said.