Krishnagiri: Tragedy struck several families in Krishnagiri district, with as many as seven school children drowning at various places over the last one week.
They had all come for holidays to spend the brief vacation, but met with a watery grave since Tuesday.
K. Dilipkumar (14) and his friend S. Manikandan (13) belonged to Anna Nagar in Keelmathur village of Uthangarai taluk in Krishnagiri district. They were studying in class nine and eight respectively in a government school.
The duo on Saturday went to a nearby lake for taking bath. Manikandan who was swimming a few meters away from Dilipkumar noticed his friend drowning. He tried to save him but both died miserably.
With this, seven school children have died so far in drowning deaths including two such incidents in Kanthikuppam police limits, one each here in Singarapettai and HUDCO police limits.
The first incident took place in Kanthikuppam on Tuesday, in which S. Stephen (11) and his cousin J. Christon Raj (6) died by drowning in a lake at Kanthikuppam village.
Following this, Subathara (14) and Kaviya (9) died on the next day (Wednesday) at their native Thadavapallam village also in Kanthikuppam police limits. They too died of drowning in a lake in their village.
Third similar incident was recorded on Thursday within HUDCO police limit of Hosur in Krishnagiri district. The victim A. Kaviya (11), a daughter of a farm hand, drowned in a small pond meant for irrigating crops. She was taken to a private hospital and was declared as brought dead.
The Krishnagiri collector, following the series of drowning deaths taking place in this district, have asked the parents to keep track of their children and also not to allow them to visit the water bodies without the adults accompanying them.
IN PERAMBALUR DT: Meanwhile, in Perambalur, an 11-year-old boy studying sixth class was drowned in a water tank at Agaramseekur village on Saturday while taking bath with his friends. The deceased was identified as R. Elizvalavan of Reddikudikaadu village, DC correspondent R. Valayapathy reports from Tiruchirappalli, quoting police sources.
