Date:04/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/04/stories/2008080451710300.htm

Tamil Nadu

One drowns, two missing in River Cauvery

Special Correspondent

METTUR: One person drowned and two others went missing when they went to bathe in River Cauvery, near here, on Saturday. Police said that Sakthivel (22) of Taramangalam went to the river to take bathe in view of the ‘Adi Perukku’ festival where he drowned. Fire and Rescue personnel retrieved his body.

Police registered a case in this connection. Similarly two others who went to take bath in the river, near Thermal Power Station, were said to be missing. A search for them is going on.

In another incident, the body of a 11-year-old boy from Mamangam in Salem city was found in a pond on Saturday.

Dinesh and his friends reportedly went to Vellakkal tank and took bath. While his friends returned to shore he did not. His body was retrieved only in the night. Sooramangalam police are investigating the cause of the boy’s death.

‘Adi Perukku’ festival

Thousands from different parts of the district gathered at Mettur to celebrate the ‘Adi Perukku’ festival on Saturday. They took bath in the Cauvery and offered prayers at Lord Muniappan temple, situated near the Mettur Dam. The Mettur Park attracted huge number of visitiors. It’s day’s entry fees collection alone stood at Rs.1.40 lakh, officials said.

A strong police contingent also was deployed to control the surging crowds on the banks of the river and at the temple. Heavy security arrangements also had been made to avoid any untoward incident. Almost all the temples in Salem district also saw huge crowds of devotees on the account of festival.

Dogs kill deer

A spotted male deer was killed by a pack of stray dogs at Mullaivadi, near Attur, on Saturday. Forest officials said that the four-year-old deer, in search of water, came to a private field when the dogs chased it.