How Did Three School Children Drown in a Pond Near Thanjavur?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Three boys drowned in a pond in Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur district.
- Parents searched for them after they failed to return home.
- The police are investigating the incident.
- There is an urgent need for safety measures around water bodies.
- The community is deeply affected by this tragic loss.
Chennai, July 12 (NationPress) In a truly tragic event, three young boys from the village of Thiruvengada Udayanpatti, located near Vallam in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, lost their lives after drowning in a pond. The deceased boys, identified as S. Balamurugan (10), S. Jaswanth (8), and K. Madhavan (10), were students at the Panchayat Union Primary School in their village.
Reports indicate that the boys had ventured out after school and had not returned home by late Friday night.
Their parents, initially believing the boys might be attending the Sundaramurthy Ayyanarkoil temple festival in Maruthakudi, began their search around 10 p.m.
A lead came when a local resident mentioned seeing the boys near the Pillayar temple pond in Maruthakudi.
Upon arrival, families found the boys' school bags abandoned on the pond's bank.
Tragically, the lifeless bodies of the three children were soon discovered floating in the water. They were rushed to the Government Thanjavur Medical College Hospital (TMCH), where doctors sadly pronounced them dead on arrival.
The Vallam Police have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the drowning. Although there are no suspicions of foul play, concerns have been raised regarding the safety of open water bodies near public areas, especially around temples frequented by families and children.
This heartbreaking incident adds to a disturbing trend of drowning fatalities in Tamil Nadu in recent weeks.
Just last month, two college students drowned while bathing in a check dam in Salem. In another case in Tirunelveli, four teenagers drowned while attempting to swim in a rain-filled quarry.
These incidents highlight the urgent need for safety awareness campaigns and protective barriers around ponds, lakes, and quarries, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas. Local authorities are urging parents to stay vigilant and ensure their children do not play near water bodies unsupervised.
The community of Thiruvengada Udayanpatti is now mourning the unexpected loss of three young lives.