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Three students from Delhi's St Stephen's College and a resort owner from Kerala drowned in the Periyar river in the state on Friday evening, police said.
Third year Sanskrit students Anubhav Chandra and Aditya Patel, first year Chemistry student Kenneth Jose, and Benny, a private resort owner from Kerala, drowned around 6.30 pm at Paniyeli Poru, a tourist spot.
The bodies were recovered and kept at the Taluk hospital at Perumbavoor, police said.
Chandra hailed from Bihar and Patel belonged to Uttar Pradesh, police said. Kenneth John was a resident of Wayanad in Kerala.
Police said the students had come to Kerala as part of a group of 11 students and 2 wardens to visit famous tourist spots.
Indian Express quoted John Varghese, Pricipal of St Stephen’s College as saying:
The students had gone as part of a college trip but these three-four students had gone away to a private resort where they met with this unfortunate accident. There will be a condolence meeting first thing in the morning tomorrow.
The incident occurred at Paniyeli Poru, a tourist spot where the river has dangerous clusters of slippery rocks, near Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district, police said, adding that it has several warning signs.
The spot is known for its death traps for tourists because of strong undercurrents, though the water is only few feet deep.
(With inputs from PTI, The Indian Express)
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