FOUR pupils of Nanga High School in Nega Nega area of Mazabuka District in Southern Province have drowned in a pit filled with water.

In a statement, Deputy police public relations officer Danny Mwale said the deceased, aged between 10 and 16, met their fate after failing to swim in an old gravel pit filled with water when conducting some trainings.

“Four pupils of Nanga High School in Nega area of Mazabuka District in Southern Province drowned in a pit filled with water. The deceased pupils have been identified as Lewis Sindembi aged 16, Ezila Mweemba aged 14, Vincent Simfukwe aged 16 all Grade 10 pupils and a Grade 12 pupil identified as Peter Chibabe aged 18,” he said.

“The Incident occurred on June 11, 2022 between 16:00 hours and 17:00 hours near Nanga High School in Nega Nega area of Mazabuka District. Brief facts of the incident are that the Four pupils were among other Nanga High School Cadets who were doing some training in an old gravel pit filled with water when they failed to swim.”

Mwape said the bodies had since been retrieved and deposited at Mazabuka general hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.

“Police and Fire Brigade Officers rushed to the scene and managed to retrieve the body of Lewis Sindembi around 20:00 hours while the Three other bodies have been retrieved today around 06:00 hours. All the bodies have been deposited in Mazabuka General Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem,” he said.

He disclosed that a cadet in charge of the training, also a pupil, and four others were being held in police custody.

“The Cadet who was In-Charge of the training and Four others are currently held in Police custody,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a related development, Leonard Chanda, a 41-year-old male, drowned whilst fishing in the Kafue river.

“A 41 year old man identified as Leonard Chanda drowned while he was fishing in the Kafue river. The deceased is suspected to have drowned on June 11, 2022 between 10:00 hours and 12:00 hours in the Kafue river in Kafue District,” he said.

“Our initial investigations revealed that Mr. Chanda of Tukunka Chanyanya in Kafue went to Kafue river to set his fish nets at around 10:00 hours. At around 12:00 hours, members of the public saw a canoe floating without anyone on it and suspected that someone had drowned.”

He said police rushed to the scene and retrieved the body with the help of members of the community.

“Police rushed to the scene and conducted a search with the help of the members of the community. The body was retrieved around 16:30 hours and was deposited in Kafue General Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem. Police have instituted investigations to establish the actual cause of death,” said Mwale.