Three persons, including a 16-year-old boy, drowned while they jumped into the river to try and rescue a 20-year-old woman in the Kallar region of Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram district. Two others have been admitted to hospital in critical condition. The deceased have been identified as 30-year-old Firoz, who is a police officer at Thiruvananthapuram SAP camp, his elder brother Jawad (35) and their 16-year-old nephew.

The trio were part of an eight-member group from Beemapally, who had visited Kallar to take a bath. According to reports, three people had jumped into the water to save a woman in their group, who got stuck underwater. The group had reportedly ignored the warnings by the resort and the local residents, and had removed a barbed wire fence gate before entering the place.The woman was, however rescued with the help of residents of the area. 

Earlier on Monday, six people were washed away while they were swimming in the Kollidam river near Poondi in Thanjavur district in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Two of the bodies were retrieved and the police and fire department personnel were using inflatable boats to look for the remaining people.

The six members of a 40-member group from Thoothukudi were on a pilgrimage to the Poondi Madha Basilica. Wanting to take a bath before visiting the temple, the six of them went to the river on Monday morning and went to the deeper end of the river while swimming. Unable to keep up with the fast undercurrent, they cried for help and people who were nearby immediately called the fire department personnel. 

According to the Thirukapatti police, after the six people entered the water, a sudden undercurrent swept them away. Police officers have been deployed on the banks of the river and a search is underway. The bodies were sent to Thiruvaiyuru Government hospital for post-mortem.