KAPILVASTU: Two girls of the same family drowned in a canal of the Banganga irrigation project in Kapilvastu today.

The deceased have been identified as seven-month-old Asmin Ansari and three-year-old Afrin Ansari, daughters of Yusub Ansari of Niglihawa VDC-9, said police.

The incident took place when Afrin tried to save Asmin when she drowned in the canal. Both the girls were with their mother, Tahera Khatun, at the time and Khatun was washing clothes.

In-charge at the Temporary Police Post, Jahadi, Assistant Sub Inspector Ram Bahadur Chhetri said that investigation into the case was underway.