Two youths drown in Ashtamudi lake

KOLLAM: In a tragic incident, two youths drowned in Ashtamudi Lake after taking a bath following a temple visit. The deceased are Valathungal natives Adithyan (19), and Abhijith (17). The incident took place around 11 a.m. on Sunday near the boat jetty close to the Ashtamudi Veerabhadra Swami Temple.

Around 8 a.m., Adithyan, Abhijith, Adithyan’s brother Abhijith, and three others from the neighbourhood had gone to the temple for darshan. After the visit, they stepped into the shallow area of the lake to bathe. While the others managed to reach the shore safely, Adithyan and Abhijith were swept into the deeper boat channel by a strong undercurrent. Seeing this, Adithyan’s brother Abhijith jumped in to save them, but also got pulled into the channel.

Hearing the screams for help, local residents rushed to the spot. They first rescued Adithyan’s brother Abhijith. Later, Adithyan and Abhijith were pulled out and taken to the district hospital, but their lives could not be saved.

Adithyan had completed his Plus Two and was working at a helmet shop in Madannada. Abhijith was a Plus One Commerce student at Mayyanad HSS. Local residents, including retired police officer Saheer and his brothers Sajid and Ajeer, led the rescue efforts.

Kollam City ACP S. Shareef visited the spot and assessed the situation. After the post-mortem at the district hospital, the bodies were handed over to their families and the last rites were performed. The Anchalummoodu police have registered a case. Abhijith is survived by his brother Akshay.