‘Aadi Perukku’ turns tragic for three at Nerur

Collector S. Jayandhi and Superintendent of Police Santhosh Kumar overseeing the efforts being made to retrieve the bodies from the Cauvery near Karur on Saturday. Photo: Special Arrangement

The auspicious ‘Aadi Perukku’ festival day turned tragic for three persons, including a brother duo, who met with a watery grave in the Cauvery river near the Sadhashiva temple at Nerur, a few kilometres from here on Saturday.

The victims were identified as T. Manoharan (30), J. Balasabarisan (17) and his younger brother J. Pravin (15). Balasabarisan was a second year mechanical engineering student, while his brother was studying eighth standard.

The brothers along with their mother, Manoharan and his family came to the Cauvery river bank to take bath when tragedy struck.

Police sources said Manoharan, Balasabarisan, Pravin and Yuvaraj apparently ventured deep into the water. While Yuvaraj was rescued by a local, the other three drowned in the river.

The bodies of the victims were recovered later by the locals, the sources said.

The sources said announcements were made through mike at the spot appealing to the public not to venture deep into the river. The Vangal police have registered a case.

V. Senthil Balaji, State Transport Minister, S. Jayandhi, District Collector, Santhosh Kumar, Superintendent of Police, visited the spot while attempts were made to retrieve the bodies. They consoled the kin of the victims.