MALAPPURAM: A boy drowned and two others went missing in the Tirur-Ponnani River at Chembra on Sunday afternoon.
The body of Muhammed Raheesudheen, 14, was fished out from the river at Thalakadathur. Raheesudheen, son of Nadakkavil Ismail and Raheena, was a ninth standard student of PKM High School, Edarikkode.
Search was continuing for Raheesudheen’s brother Muhammed Ramees, 12, and Muhammed Ajmal, 14. Ajmal, their cousin, is also a ninth standard student of PKM High School. Ramees is studying in seventh standard in GUPS Chembra.
The incident occurred at 3 pm on Sunday. The boys, accompanied by their uncle Razak, had gone to the paddy field near the river which was overflowing. The boys went missing in the water when Razak was washing his car in the paddy field.
Fire and Rescue Services personnel, police and local people were engaged in the search operation. Local MLA C Mammootty said the search would continue on Monday with the help of the Navy.
District Collector K Biju declared holiday for all educational institutions except professional colleges in Ponnani and Tirur taluks on Monday.