By Nabaraj Kattel, Biratnagar, Sept. 21: Three of the same family died in Motipur, Gramthan Rural Municipality-4, Morang, by drowning in a fish pond.

The deceased have been identified as Sita Katuwal Adhikari, 35 of Banaskhandi, Gramthan-4, and her two daughters, Pabitra Adhikari, 13, and Kritika Adhikari, 9.

According to Rishiraj Dhakal, police inspector of Area Police Office, Belbari, all three of them died by drowning after the mother apparently dove into the fish pond to save her two daughters on Sunday afternoon.

"The mother's body was recovered with full clothes while her 9-year-old daughter's body was naked and her 13-year-old daughter had inner garments on," informed inspector Dhakal.

"The nature of the incident suggests that the two daughters must have entered the pond to swim and the mother must have entered later to rescue her children," said Dhakal.

He added that further investigation was underway.

"Adhikari was not in contact with her husband for the last nine years and she had been staying in her parents' home with her daughters," said the police.

As per the information received by the police, Adhikari was given the responsibility to look after the fish pond.

The dead bodies were recovered from the pond at 8:00 pm on Sunday evening and were taken to Koshi Hospital, Biratnagar for post mortem.