Accident: A 19-year-old student of private school, Norbu Academy in Rinchending in Phuentsholing died after falling into a pit near the town’s taxi parking on August 7.

The teenager was rescued from the water-filled pit by bystanders, but died on the way to the hospital.

While the level of the water in the pit is not deep, it is not known how the victim fell into the pit. However, the area around the pit is slippery.

The pit is connected by a hume pipe from where a little stream of water flows.

Phuentsholing police have ruled out foul play and drugs. Police officials said that the deceased had attended a scout programme in his school on August 6. He had come to town later in the morning and had tea with his friends before returning home.

However, police are still investigating the case.

The incident, sources said, occurred between 9am and 10am. Although taxis were parked close to the site, no one witnessed how the boy fell into the pit.

A non-Bhutanese who provides cleaning services to the taxis and uses water from the hume pipe saw the deceased when he went to fetch water. “I did not see him when I came before,” he said.

Meanwhile, the metre-deep pit continues to pose a risk to pedestrians and school students.

Phuentsholing thromde will inspect the site and explore possibilities of covering up the pit so that safety is improved.

Rajesh Rai | Phuentsholing

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