Two youths went missing in the Neyyar river after they had gone for a swim during a leisure trip on Sunday. While the body of one of them was recovered in the evening, the other remained untraceable.
They have been identified as Adarsh, 21, of Keezhattingal, and Manikantan, 21, of Iravoor in Aryanad. Both students of the Neyyattinkara Polytechnic College, they had gone to their friend Anoop’s residence at Arattukadavu, following which the gang decided to take a dip in the Neyyar river.
According to the police, Adarsh and Manikantan were swept away by the strong waves, while Anoop managed to swim to safety. The incident occurred at around 3.30 p.m.
Soon after being alerted, the police and officials of the Fire and Rescue Services commenced efforts to rescue the youths. While Manikantan’s body was soon fished out, the officers were forced to call off the efforts for the day owing to fading light. The body has been shifted to the mortuary of the Government Hospital at Nedumangad.
The incident occurred in the backdrop of precautionary measures that were adopted by the police in view of the increasing water levels owing to the opening of the shutters of the Neyyar Dam two days ago.
Fisherman untraced
In a separate incident, the authorities were yet to recover the body of a 58-year-old fisherman who had been reported missing in the sea after his boat capsized off the Panathura coast, near Thiruvallam, a day ago.
Justin of Kochuveli, who was yet to be found, was one of the three fishermen who had gone fishing on Saturday. When their boat capsized after hitting a rock, Justin was swept away by the strong waves, while the others managed to swim to safety.
