Five NCC cadets drown in Kerala river

[baker]

Thiruvananthapuram: Five NCC cadets who had come from northern India for a trekking camp near here drowned in the Periyar river Wednesday morning, local legislator Jose Thettayil said.

Thettayil said the five cadets had told officers of the National Cadet Corps that they were going to the Periyar river to take photographs.

While three of the cadets were reportedly brought dead, the other two died in the hospital.

He said the names of the five were not yet known but they were said to be attached to the NCC Delhi unit.

Students from 16 states are taking part in the national trekking camp that began Dec 23 at Malayatoor, a place known for hilly terrain.

Witnesses said the bodies were taken out of the river by forest and fire service officials with the help of locals.

"We are given to understand that they did not venture for a swim but fell from the river bank into the river. The place is treacherous and only experts can manage to swim," Thettayil said.

IANS

Five NCC cadets drown in Kerala river

RIP

 

[Koovie]

Just heard it in news.... R.I.P.

 

[baker]

As part of the camp, the cadets were taken for trekking through different routes daily and today they went to the Mahagony Forest Plantation at Moolamkuzhi near the river, a senior NCC official said.

The boys went into the river to click photographs and were caught in the whirlpool moments after which they drowned, Lt Col Madhusoodanan, Administrative Officer, NCC, who was in the camp, told PTI.

"There are standing orders in all NCC camps not to go to the water bodies. The boys were also told not to get into the water. But they said they are just going to click some photographs", he said.

The deceased were identified as Hemant (15), a school student, Mohammed Dishan (19), Sabeesh Baqri (19), Dilshad Alam (18) and Gulvez Ahamed (18)-- college students.
An inquiry has been ordered into the incident, a Defence press release said.

A pall of gloom descended on the camp following the incident.

Police sources had earlier stated that the mishap occurred when the cadets had gone for a bath in the river.

Over 1000 NCC cadets from across the country have congregated at Malayattoor for the 8-day national level trekking camp which began on December 23.

The camp was being organised by the Ernakulam NCC Group of Kerala NCC Directorate.

Five NCC cadets from Delhi drown in Kerala's Periyar river