Two children died in separate incidents in the state on Wednesday. In the first incident, five-year-old Gurnivas Kaur, a resident of Khunan village in Ratia (Fatehabad), died after her father, Gurpreet Singh, allegedly threw her into the Bhakra canal. According to police, Gurpreet reached the girl’s school around 10.30 am and took her home after seeking permission from teachers. About an hour later, he allegedly pushed her into the canal before returning home alone.

Police said Gurpreet later informed his wife that he had thrown their daughter into the canal. The family alerted neighbours, following which local residents and the State Disaster Response Force launched a search operation. The child’s body was recovered nearly 25 km away near Fatehpur village in Punjab’s Mansa district after a three-and-a-half-hour search.

Investigators said the accused was reportedly undergoing treatment for mental illness at a private hospital in Hisar. Police also revealed that another daughter of the family had died under suspicious circumstances in the past.

School van driver, management booked

In another incident in Sirsa district, police registered an FIR against a school van driver and the management of a private school in Bhuna after five-and-a-half-year-old Nikhil allegedly fell from the rear window of a moving van while returning home on July 20.

His father alleged the van was being driven rashly and had no helper to supervise children. He also claimed the family was misled into burying the child before any investigation. Following the complaint, authorities exhumed the body for a post-mortem, and police said further action would be taken based on the findings.