A 37-year-old man has died after drowning in an irrigation canal in Mechinagar Municipality, Jhapa district, according to police officials.

The deceased has been identified as Uttam Subba, a resident of Sitaram Tole, Ward No. 5 of Mechinagar.

According to the District Police Office, Subba was found dead around 8:35 PM last night, approximately 300 meters south of his residence, submerged in a local canal.

Upon receiving information about the incident, a police team from the Area Police Office, Kakarbhitta, was dispatched to the scene for further investigation and to carry out necessary legal procedures.

Authorities have not yet disclosed whether foul play is suspected, and an official postmortem report is pending.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, where residents have long voiced concerns about the safety risks posed by unprotected irrigation canals in the area.