CHOTTANIKKARA: A young man drowned while saving three relatives who were swept away while performing 'bali tharpanam' rituals in Pazhoor river. KM Manesh (42), son of late Mani and Shanta of Eroor South, is the one who died.

The incident happened around 10.30 am yesterday. A group of 25 people came to Pazhoor for Manesh's uncle's 'bali tharpanam' ritual. Amal (12), Sajin (24) and Suryadev (36) who went in the river during the ceremony got caught in the current. Manesh, who saved all three of them, drowned in the meantime.

Manesh's relatives and people who came for swimming training brought him to the shore. They gave him first aid and took him to a private hospital, but his life could not be saved. The body was cremated after post-mortem. Wife: Vidyalakshmi (Moothoot Ernakulam). Children: Daksha, Diya.

This is a part of the river where the flow cannot be determined externally. There have been many accidents here before and warning boards have been put up as well.