Vijayapura: In a heartbreaking incident near Benal village in Nidagundi Taluk, Vijayapura district, a mother threw her four children into the Alamatti left-bank canal before attempting to take her own life. While the mother, identified as Bhagya Bhajantri, was rescued by locals, all four children tragically drowned.

The deceased children have been identified as Tanu Ningraj Bhajantri (5), Raksha Bhajantri (3), and twin boys Hasan and Hussain Bhajantri (13 months old). The family hails from Telgi village in Kolar Taluk.

Preliminary investigations suggest that family disputes led to the incident. Bhagya’s husband, Ningraj, a member of the Telgi Gram Panchayat, had ongoing property-related disagreements with his siblings.

The tragic events unfolded on Monday when the family, traveling on a bike, stopped near the canal after running out of petrol. While Ningraj went to fetch fuel, Bhagya threw the children into the canal and jumped in herself. Nearby locals witnessed the incident and managed to save Bhagya, but the children had already drowned.

The bodies of the two daughters, Tanu and Raksha, were recovered by local fishermen, while search operations for the twin boys' bodies are ongoing with the help of swimmers and fire department personnel. Bhagya is currently hospitalized and under medical care.

Ningraj, the father of the deceased children, is said to have been actively involved in Muharram rituals, which is why the twin boys were named Hasan and Hussain.

The Nidagundi police have registered a case and are conducting further investigations into the incident.