The deceased have been identified as Sonal Ahir and Jalpa Ahir, both 15, and residents of Shetrunji-Vadala village.

According to an eye-witness, the incident occurred around 4.30 pm when a group of women were washing clothes at the ghat. All of a sudden, the water tank — built on the ground — collapsed, burying five women under the debris.

The injured were rushed to the nearby government hospital in Mendarada town and later referred to the Junagadh Civil Hospital, where Sonal and Jalpa died during treatment, sources said.

The revenue administration has now ordered an inquiry into the incident, while the Visavadar police have registered the incident as an ‘accidental death’, and has started investigations.

Visavadar Taluka Development Officer N V Patel said: “We will visit the village for a spot assessment and an inquiry, and submit the report within a day or two. It will be premature to say anything concrete prior to an inquiry.”

Patel said the water tank was built around three years ago by the civic body of the Shetrunji-Vadala village under the Gokul Gram Scheme run by the state government.