Date:29/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/29/stories/2006122917950300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Schoolboy dives into pond and dies

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI : In a tragic accident, a 14-year-old boy, who was playing cricket with his friends, fell into a small pond and was declared "brought dead" at Kilpauk Medical College Hospital here on Thursday.

Police said the boy identified as Rajesh was studying in class VIII in a school in Aynavaram in Pulianthope police district. The tragedy occurred when the boy went to collect the ball, which rolled into the pond. Rajesh reportedly dived into the pond to retrieve the ball. Panic spread when the boy failed to emerge.

A few locals fished out the boy from the pond and rushed him to the Kilpauk Medical College hospital. Doctors there declared the patient as "brought dead".

Investigations revealed that the boy's father Kumar was an autodriver residing in Secretariat Colony.

As the school had declared a weeklong holiday, Rajesh had come to the Pananthope Colony area in Otteri police station limits along with his friends to play cricket.