Date:02/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/02/stories/2009010258970300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Man jumps into Cooum, drowns

Special Correspondent

Tension prevailed on Langs Garden Road

— Photo: S.S. Kumar

Frantic search: Fire and Rescue Services personnel searching for the man who jumped into the Cooum at Pudupet on Thursday.

CHENNAI: Tension prevailed on Langs Garden Road, Pudupet, after a resident of the slum settlement drowned in the Cooum river.

His neighbours became agitated and verbally abused the Fire and Rescue Service personnel for delaying the efforts to rescue the victim, Suresh (40). He was a resident of one of the over 200 huts that were destroyed in a fire in the area on Tuesday.

According to the residents, Suresh had returned to the city after a trip to Sabarimala on Thursday. He was shocked to find that his house had been destroyed. He picked a fight with his wife after which he allegedly jumped into the Cooum.

Youths in the area entered the river and tried in vain to rescue him.

The Fire and Rescue Service personnel arrived sometime later. The body was fished out late in the evening and sent for post-mortem.