JHAPA: Two boys drowned this morning in a pond located inside the Namuna Community Forest in Arjundhara Municipality–11.

According to Khagendra Khadka, the spokesperson of the District Police Office, Jhapa, the deceased have been identified as 12-year-old Mahasus Gurung and 10-year-old Sujal Gurung.

Both were originally from Jirikhimti, Tehrathum, and were visiting the home of Purnabahadur Rai in Arjundhara–11 as guests.

The incident occurred at around 8:00 AM when the boys went swimming in the pond inside the community forest. Locals, upon discovering that the children had drowned, rescued them and rushed them to B&C Hospital in Birtamode for treatment.

However, doctors at the hospital declared both boys dead at around 8:30 AM, according to police spokesperson Khadka.

The bodies of the boys are currently being kept at the hospital.