NILAMBUR: In a tragic incident, five children drowned in Chaliyar river at Cheenikkadavu near Nilambur on Thursday. The deceased are Jinu Mathew,15, Jainy Mathew,11, Aleena,13, Amal, 10, and Ajay, 9. All of them are relatives. Aleena, Amala and Ajay are children of Binu-Lisa couple belonging to Athikadu near Nilambur. Jinu Mathew and Jainy Mathew are children of Mathew-Philomina couple at Vazhuthekkad in Wayanad district.
They had come to visit Binu’s house in Nilambur. The children went to bathe in Chaliyar river around 4 pm with Philomina. Amal was caught in an undercurrent. The rest of them also fell into the current while attempting to rescue Amal. “The natives around the river rushed to the spot hearing the screaming of Philomina. But they could not save the children,” Aju P Nair, a witness told Express.
The bodies of four children were immediately recovered by the locals. The body of the other child was retrieved after an hour. Fire Force reached the spot only after all the bodies were taken out.
Philomina and Lisa are sisters.
Binu is an auto driver in Nilambur. The children of Binu are students of the Fatimagiri School in Nilambur. The Revenue Minister announced a relief of `10,000 each for the victims’ families, said District Collector M C Mohandas. District police chief K Sethuraman also visited the spot.