Date:02/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/02/stories/2005050200900700.htm

Kerala

Six Pondy youths drowned in river

Staff Reporter

KOTTAYAM: Six youths from Pondicherry who were on a holiday trip to Kerala drowned in the sand-mining pits in the Meenachil river at Bharanaganam, near Pala, on Sunday. One boy was rescued by the local people and admitted to Government Medical College, Kottayam. According to the police, the victims were students and alumni of Bright High School (BHS), Pondicherry.

They were identified as Elamabaruthy (14), Std. IX student of BHS; Mohan Babu (15), Std. X student; Raman (13), Std. VII; Kannappan (16), BHS alumnus and now Std. XI student in Don Bosco Higher Secondary School; Joseph (17), Std. XII student in Don Bosco; and Sajeev John, B.Sc. Biotechnology student in St. Joseph College, Kadalur. Sajeev John is the son of John Sebastian of Athirampuzha, who is the director of BHS. Another student, Bhaskaran, a Std. X student in BHS, was rescued by a local boatman.

The students were part of a 30-member team that had left Pondicherry on Saturday for holidaying in Kerala. The team consisted of 22 boys, the rest being girls and teachers. They had visited Thekkady on Sunday morning and had stayed at a house at Bharananganam for a short time, the police said.

The students had gone for a bath in the Meenachil river near the house.

According to eyewitness accounts, the students could not call out for help as they were caught in the deep pits formed by illegal sand-mining in the area.

After inquest, the bodies were removed to the mortuary at Government Medical College.