Barmer, July 18 -- Two cousins drowned after slipping into a pit allegedly created as a result of illegal mining in Barmer's Daruda village on Friday, police said. The deceased were identified as Devaram (18) and Kirtaram (20). Police said the incident occurred after Devaram slipped and fell into the pit while the cousins were on a walk along with a friend. Kirtaram reportedly jumped in to save his cousin, but both were unable to resurface. A rescue team comprising of army personnel from Jasai and local civil defence personnel arrived at the site after the friend raised an alarm and informed villagers. The boys were pulled out in around an hour and rushed to the district hospital, where both were declared dead, said police. The deceased's family alleged the pit was formed due to allegedly illegal mining operations by stone-crusher units in the area. Assistant sub-inspector Gyan Singh of Barmer Rural police station said the bodies awaited post-mortem examination before being returned, and an investigation was underway into the family's allegations....