Two members of a church have died while getting baptised in a river at the Rombo area of Tanzania on Sunday.


The pastor of the church, Shalom Church is being held for questioning, the local deputy police commandant, Hamisi Selemani Issa, has told the BBC.

The two drowned in the River Ungwasi after being overhelmed by strong currents while being immersed in the water as part of the baptism ceremony conducted by the pastor.

"We don't know what [exactly] happened, but I understand these people believe that baptism has to be done in a river, when others have been doing it in church. The river is big and if you are not careful you can drown."Issa said.