Meerut, Sept. 2 -- Heavy rainfall and waterlogging in Sambhal district on Monday claimed the lives of a head constable and a four-year-old girl after they fell into drains and drowned in two in separate incidents.

The first incident occurred around 10am near Sikri Gate in Chandausi town, where head constable Rajneesh Kumar, posted at the police lines, lost his life. He was on his way to serve as a munshi (clerk) at the Shri Ganesh Chaturthi fair police station when his motorcycle skidded on a submerged road. Unable to spot the culvert under the waterlogged stretch, his bike slipped, and he fell into the drain, which was about 25 metres long. The closed culvert trapped him inside, preventing escape.

Local residents grew suspicious after ...