Chennai: In two mishaps, three boys die bathing in pond

Chennai: Two school children lost their lives while bathing, as they got stuck in mud and drowned in a lake on Sunday evening, officials said.

The deceased were identified as R. Mohan Raj (15), son of Raja and resident of Sirucheri near Kelambakkam and D. Dhilipan (10), son of Devi Periyar of the same area. Mohan Raj was in class IX and Dhilipan was a class V student.

According to Thalambur police, the duo along with four other minor boys in the village went for a bath in the lake in Siruseri around 6 pm. Dhilipan got stuck in the muddy water, and Mohan Raj ventured deep into the pond to his rescue, and both drowned.

Hearing the other boys' scream, a local jumped in and rescued two of them. However, he could not save Dilipan, who died on the spot. They rushed Mohan Raj to a private hospital nearby, where he was pronounced 'dead' on arrival. Sources said that the boys had gone to take bath despite warnings by local residents. A few similar deaths were reported in that place in the past as well, added sources.

The bodies were taken to their respective houses without post-mortem. However, in the wee hours of Monday, police reached the spot and convinced the parents who later sent the bodies for autopsy. Police said, Dilipan's eyes were donated to an eye bank before post-mortem.

Thalambur police registered a case under CrPC 174 and sent the bodies to Chengalpet government hospital for post-mortem. Investigation is on.

In another similar incident on Saturday, a 12-year-old boy drowned in an abandoned stone quarry pond while taking bath along with friends in West Tambaram.