Published on: July 18, 2026
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
Following the tragic drowning deaths of three schoolchildren in a pond in Bortalab village last Wednesday, Rajnandgaon Mayor Madhusudan Yadav visited the village and met the bereaved families and local residents.
The Mayor expressed his condolences and assured the families of all possible support, including compensation, accident insurance benefits and additional financial assistance.
Mayor Meets Families of Deceased Children
Mayor Madhusudan Yadav met the families of five-year-old Krish Mandavi, six-year-old Dinesh Mandavi and six-year-old Sarthak Kokate, who lost their lives in the tragic incident.
He also interacted with villagers to understand the circumstances surrounding the accident. The villagers demanded compensation for the affected families and strict action against those responsible.
During the visit, the Mayor contacted the Rajnandgaon Collector and the District Education Officer over the phone and discussed immediate relief for the bereaved families.
₹4 Lakh Assistance Under Natural Disaster Provisions
The Mayor informed villagers that families of individuals who die by drowning in a natural disaster are eligible for financial assistance of ₹4 lakh, which will be provided through the District Collector.
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He further stated that the two schoolchildren, Krishna Mandavi and Dinesh Mandavi, would be eligible for accident insurance assistance of ₹1 lakh each through the School Education Department.
Since six-year-old Sarthak Kokate was studying in a private school and was not eligible for the same accident insurance benefit available to students of government schools, the Mayor assured the family that he would seek financial assistance and relief from Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Dr Raman Singh, Speaker of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly and MLA from Rajnandgaon.
Calls for Strict Action Against Contractor
To prevent a recurrence of such incidents, Mayor Madhusudan Yadav also discussed the matter with the Bortalab police station in-charge.
He called for a prompt and impartial investigation and strict legal action against the railway contractor allegedly linked to the incident.
The Mayor appealed to villagers to ensure that children are not sent alone near wells, rivers, ponds or other water bodies. He urged parents and guardians to accompany children or keep them under constant supervision near such locations.
Senior BJP leader Dinesh Gandhi and several local BJP leaders, municipal councillors and community representatives were present during the Mayor’s visit.
