THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two youths are feared drowned in Vellayani lake while swimming after the duo fell into pits on Sunday evening. The deceased have been identified as Shambhu, 15, and Vishnu, 24. Both were natives of Naruvamoodu, near Pravachambalam. The Nemom police have registered a case in connection with the incident.
According to police, the incident took place around 4.15 pm when two youths along with four others reached the banks of the lake at Kulangara, near Kakkamoola, to take a bath. While swimming, they fell into the trenches in the lake formed owing to sand mining. A few onlookers stationed at the shore had launched rescue operations, soon after which police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel also joined in. The bodies have been fished out after an hour and they were declared dead on arrival at Government Medical College Hospital, police said.
The bodies will be handed over to the family after a post-mortem examination scheduled on Monday.
The police said frequent sand mining in the lake started posing hazards to the swimmers and fishermen alike. Deep pits are being formed at various parts of the lake leading to similar tragedies, police said.