Rautahat, Aug 23 

Three girls have gone missing in the Bagmati River at Dharampurghat of Gadhimai municipality-7 in Rautahat.

The missing ones are identified as Pinku Kumari, 10, daughter of Bhadai Mukhiya; Sushila Kumari, 12, daughter of Lachhuman Das and Chanchal Kumari, 10, daughter of Chattu Mukhiya of Dharampur, the District Police Office, Rautahat said.

The girls had been in the river late this morning with other women to take a bath on the occasion of Rishipanchami festival, said Superintendent of Police Rabiraj Khadka.

According to witnesses, the girls disappeared all of a sudden while taking bath.

Police have launched a search operation for the missing girls. It is said the river flow is more intense today than that of previous days.