KAILALI: Three young girls drowned on Friday while playing in the Kulariya River, part of the Rani Jamara irrigation system in Kailali.

According to Tikapur Police, the victims were 12-year-old Sulochana Upadhyay from Janaki Rural Municipality–5, 10-year-old Nisha Bajgain, and 8-year-old Mansi Bajgain.

The girls went swimming at noon on Friday, and when two tried to rescue the third, all three drowned.

Locals pulled them out and rushed them to Tikapur Hospital, where doctors declared them dead.

The Bajgain sisters were visiting their uncle’s house for the Tihar festival, while Sulochana was their cousin.