:
Two students from Ambattur in Chennai drowned and a man from Thanjavur is missing in the Kollidam at Thirumanur near Ariyalur on Sunday.
A group of persons, most of them schoolchildren from Ambattur, was on a visit to Thiruvaiyaru in Thanjavur district to participate in a religious event on Saturday.
After the function, 10 persons went for a swim in the river.
Of them, B. Pachaiappan, 17, was caught in the swirl.
On noticing him struggle for life, his friends attempted to save him. But they too were caught in the swirl.
The local residents, who were taking bath in the river, rushed to their rescue and managed to save seven of them.
On information, the Fire and Rescue Services personnel from Ariyalur rushed to the spot and launched a search.
They retrieved the bodies of Pachaiappan and M. Santhanakrishnan, 12, of Ambattur.
Search on
Efforts are on to trace M. Deepak, 21, of Thiruvalluvar Nagar in Thanjavur.
The Thirumanur police are investigating.