Two Tamil actresses drown

Chennai, April 26 (IANS) Two actresses shooting for upcoming Tamil romantic-comedy "Naiyaandi" in Tiruvarur drowned Friday while taking a bath in a pond, a source in the film unit said.

"Saraswathy, 24, Sukanya, 22, and Viji, 21, entered a pond to take a bath as there was no shooting. All three of them did not quite know how to swim. They were bathing in the pond at a point where the water was shallow. As they moved deeper into the water, they were trapped by plants in the pond," the source told IANS.

"People passing by noticed Sukanya struggling, and rushed to save her. They managed to get her out alive. However, the other two had already drowned by then. Their bodies were drawn to the bank," the source said.

Police have sent the bodies for post-mortem examination.

Sukanya is under treatment at a local hospital.

Directed by Sarkunam, "Naiyaandi" features Dhanush and Nazriya Nizam in the lead roles. The film unit has been shooting for the last one week in Edamelaiyur village, in Tiruvarur district.

Following the incident, Sarkunam returned to Chennai.