Kollam (Kerala): The body of a six-year-old girl who was reported missing from near Kerala's Kollam for the past 24 hours was found along the banks of a nearby river on Friday, police said.
The Kerala police had on Thursday launched a massive search operation for the minor who was reported missing since 11 am on Thursday. She went missing when her mother went behind the house for some household chores for just about five minutes.
Devananda (6), also called Ponnu, is the daughter of Dhanya and Pradeep Kumar, the police said.
"We found the body along the banks of the river today morning. We had yesterday searched the river, but could not find anything," police added.
The body was taken to a nearby hospital for post-mortem. The cause of death is yet to be ascertained.
The preliminary report stated that there are no bruises or injuries on the body of Devananda.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed condolences over the death of Devananda. “Keralites were on mission to trace Devananda who went missing. Everyone was shocked after the child’s body was recovered from the river. I express my deepest condolences on her death to the family,” wrote Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on his Facebook page.
The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter. (PTI report)
