In a tragic incident, three-year-old twin brothers on Saturday afternoon drowned in a washing machine while their mother was out to buy detergent at Rohini in north west Delhi, police said.
The twins, Naksh and Neeshu, were inside the top loading washing machine for up to 30 minutes before being discovered by their father, they said.
There was about 15 litres of water in the spinning tub of the washing machine and there is a possibility that the children fell into the spinner by climbing the pile of laundry, police said.
Police say a probe has been initiated into the cause of death. However, preliminary probe indicates that it was an accident.
Rekha, mother of the victims, said she had filled water in the washing machine and went to a nearby shop to buy detergent around 12.40 PM. When she came back, she did not find the children in the house.
She looked for them in the neighbouring apartments and then informed her husband, Ravinder. He came home and joined the search for the children.
Ravinder, who works as a manager with an insurance company, rushed to the house and joined the search for the children. He found the children lying in the washing machine, police said.
The children were rushed to the hospital where they were declared brought dead, they said.
The bodies of the boys have been sent for an autopsy.
"The family is inconsolable. The bodies have been sent to Baba Saheb Ambedkar hospital in Rohini for postmortem. Inquest proceedings under Section 174 (police to inquire and report on suicide etc) of CrPC are underway," said a senior police officer.
