Four of a family drown in Bhavani

Salem: A fun trip for a family from Nilgiris ended in tragedy in Bhavani Sagar in Erode district after the coracle they were riding capsized leaving four persons including a newly married couple and two other youths dead on Monday.

Police said Joseph Paulraj, 29, a BSNL staff from Conoor in Nilgiris and his wife Azad Jennifer, 25 had visited their relative’s house at Nerinjipettai in Erode district for ‘pongal’ holidays. 

They got married only in November last year. On Sunday evening, the couple accompanied by their relatives R Alan Francis, 22, a college student in Tiruchy, S George Arvind, 22, from Satyamangalam and S Edwin, 12, had gone for a fun ride in a coracle in the gushing waters of river Bhavani. The ill-fated coracle was driven by David Francis, 45, from Nerinjipettai.

Shortly after the ride began, water entered into the coracle and triggered its capsize. While the coracle rider David Francis and Edwin swam to safety to the shores, unfortunately, four others drowned, as they do not know to swim.

On receiving information, the fire and rescue services personnel from Satyamangalam rushed to the spot and retrieved the bodies of four persons after a search for over two hours.

The bodies of the victims have been sent for post-mortem at the government hospital in Satyamangalam. Police said that they had unknowingly gone on a ride in the coracle, which had a gaping hole that caused water to enter inside and capsize thereafter. Further enquiries are on.