School picnic turns tragic; three students drowned in Idukki

IDUKKI: In a drastic incident, three children on a picnic trip from school, got drowned near Mankulam in Idukki. The deceased was identified as Richard, Arjun, and Joel from Angamaly Jyothis central school. The three are students in the ninth standard. Almost 30 students were on the picnic when the shocking incident happened.

The incident happened when five students from the group decided to swim in a shallow pool that the locals labeled hazardous. Hearing other students' cries, the localities reached the spot and took rescue operation saving two children from the group. The other three were brought to the surface soon and were rushed to the Adimaly taluk hospital. However, all the valiant efforts went in vain.