THANJAVUR: Seven youth who got stranded in Kollidam river due to sudden swirling waters on either side at Kudithangi near Kumbakonam, were rescued by the Fire and Rescue Services personnel after a nine-hour struggle in the early hours of Monday.
The youth-Prithiviraj (21), son of Ramar, an engineering student and his brother Prakash, 19, of Thirupurambiyam village, Dinesh Babu, son of Rajendran, Ajith son of Dhanavel, Saravanan (29), son of Nadarajan, Surendar (22), son of Murugesan and Arjunan (25), son of Dhanabal-all belonging to the same village sought to cross the river to the Sri Purandhan side of Ariyalur district to take part in a 'Kabadi' match there.
While crossing the river from Kudithangi area to reach Sri Purandhan side on the other bank, they walked through the dry part of the river bed on Sunday evening. But to their shock, they found water suddenly flowing on either side, trapping them in the middle.
The youth decided to stay on the sand mounds in the river bed and accordingly four of them stay put near Kudithangi side and three on a mound closer to Sri Purandhan side.
One of them, Prithivikumar, after some time in fear, contacted Fire and Rescue Services personnel at Kumbakonam through his cell phone and narrated their plight.
Fire and rescue service personnel led by Muthukumar, station officer rushed to the spot with rubber boat, safety dresses and search lights and rescued four of them stranded in the mound on Kudithangi side.
The fire service personnel contacted their counterparts at Jayamkondam and asked them to rescue three stranded on Sri Purandhan side. Meanwhile, Pradeep Kumar, Sub-collector of Kumbakonam, Tinakumari, RDO of Udayarpalayam, Manickaraj, tasildhar, and Fire Services personnel from Jayamkondam arrived at the spot.
But it was not an easy task for them to rescue the three stranded on Sri Purandhan side as the water flow was heavy. After nine hours of struggle they rescued the three youth around 4-30 am on Monday.
The youth were sent back to their villages. K.Anbalagan, Kumbakonam MLA called on them and enquired about their health, sources said.
