Two girls drown in Thamirabarani river at Eral

Two girls from Bangalamedu in Theni district drowned in Thamirabarani river at Eral in Thoothukudi on Friday.

Police identified them as S. Abinaya, 16, and S, Meenakshi, 12.

Police said Sankara Kumar, a resident of Bangalamedu, had come with his family, including his daughters Abinaya and Meenakshi, to offer prayers at Pethanaachi Amman temple at Melmaandhai. On their way, they visited Arunachala Swamigal temple at Eral. Before offering prayers at the temple, they went to nearby Thamirabarani river for a bath.

The two girls jumped into the water and suddenly went missing. Their parents and other family members alerted Eral police. Fire and Rescue Services personnel soon arrived and launched a search operation. Both girls were recovered from the river and sent to the Primary Health Centre at Eral, where doctors declared them dead on arrival. The bodies were sent to Thoothukudi Government Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examination.

Eral police have registered a case and are investigating.