Five members of a family in Mahrashtra, including three children, lost their lives after drowning in a water-filled quarry in Thane district on Saturday, ndtv.com quotes police.

The family members drowned after they jumped into the quarry in a bid to save a child who slipped and fell into the water.

The horrific accident took place at 4 pm in Sandap village near Dombivali.

Villagers informed the family reached the quarry to wash clothes as water scarcity is a problem. The women were occupied washing clothes when the accompanying child, "apparently fell into the quarry, after which they jumped into the water to save him. But all five drowned."

The deceased were Mira Gaikwad (55), her daughter-in-law Apeksha (30) and grandchildren Mayuresh (15), Moksha (13) and Nilesh (15).

"A woman and her daughter-in-law were washing clothes near the quarry when one of the woman's three grandchildren, who were sitting close by, apparently slipped into the water. The other four tried to rescue the child but they all drowned," a police official said.

The bodies were recovered and an accidental deaths case has been filed at Dombivali police station, according to police.