7 people drown in 2 incidents in TN

Seven persons -- a family of four and three boys -- died in two different incidents of drowning in Tamil Nadu today, police said.

Three women and a girl drowned in Bhavani River in Sathyamangalam in Erode district, while the boys were found dead in a pond in Kaadalkudi village in Tuticorin district, they said.

In Sathyamanglam, the victims were taking bath in the river when one of them strayed into deep waters and drowned. The other three tried to save her, but they too drowned.

Police along with Fire and Rescue Services personnel and divers retrieved bodies of three women, including a 35-year old and her teenaged daughter. The other woman was aged 25.

Efforts were on to locate the body of a 12-year old girl.

The four, belonging to neighbouring Tirupur, had come to their relative's house in Sathyamangalam and went for a bath this evening when the mishap occurred, police added.

Police in Tuticorin said the boys, aged 8, 9 and 11, were found drowned in the 20 feet deep pond.

The bodies had been recovered, police said adding it was suspected that the victims could have accidentally fell into the pond. They were earlier seen playing near it.