Most drowning cases occur during summer: Fire dept.

Drowning cases involving students amusement a surge during summertime vacation, with the calamity that claimed 3 dental students successful the Palavan stream astatine Vadattupara, Kuttampuzha panchayat, adjacent Kothamangalam connected Sunday (May 10, 2026) being the latest, observed the Fire and Rescue Services department.

The victims, portion of a nine-member radical from Baselios Dental College, Kothamangalam, had travel to the picturesque agelong downstream of Idamalayar dam for recreation. One reportedly slipped from a sandbar into deeper waters and was caught successful beardown undercurrents, portion the different 2 drowned trying to prevention him.

Last month, successful a akin incident, 3 dental students drowned successful the main canal from Idamalayar astatine Odakkali successful neighbouring Asamannoor panchayat. While 2 bodies were recovered by locals, the 3rd was fished retired by the scuba squad from Kothamangalam occurrence station. In different incident, a 15-year-old girl, a plus-one student, drowned successful a 30-40 ft chromatic quarry astatine Thrikkariyoor panchayat successful Kothamangalam block.

“Around 90% of drowning cases hap during summertime vacation, and 95% of victims are students venturing into unsafe waters to aquatics oregon larn swimming. Realising this, the Kothamangalam occurrence station, successful relation with Pindimana panchayat, civilian defence volunteers and a section school, organised a 10-day swimming campy for students this vacation. Around 50 students participated successful the camp,” said Mohammed Ajmal Shah, presumption officer, Kothamangalam occurrence station. The scuba squad stationed astatine the Kothamangalam occurrence presumption attends drowning cases crossed agrarian Ernakulam district.

Residents said astir 20 lives had been mislaid successful the Palavan river, which claimed 3 lives connected Sunday. Flanked by greenery and pristine sandbeds, the river’s allure hides sedate dangers successful the signifier of beardown undercurrents and heavy pits unfamiliar to visitors. “We person enactment up a informing committee against venturing into the river. But visitors often disregard it,” said Mr. Shah.

Residents added that the h2o level and existent emergence abruptly pursuing h2o discharge from the Idamalayar pump location aft powerfulness generation. This often catches unsuspecting visitors disconnected guard, arsenic the sandbars connected which they basal get washed away.