The four girls from Liujiao Primary School, aged between 10 and 12, drowned in a pond near Baiwan village, Weituo Town on Wednesday afternoon, said an official with Hechuan District government.

The school had given students a half-day off so that teachers could attend a meeting about end-of-term exams, said the official.

The girls took advantage of the free time to go to the pond to swim.

Rescuers recovered the bodies of the four girls on Wednesday evening.

The local government is discussing compensation with the parents of the dead children.