Two drown in Kallanai canal near Thanjavur while bathing

Two members of a family drowned while bathing in the Kallanai canal near Manojipatti, located on the outskirts of Thanjavur, on Saturday evening.

The deceased have been identified as Palani, 36, a daily wage labourer, and Tamizhmany, 13, a Class VIII student and son of Palani’s brother-in-law, Thennavan. Palani was a resident of South Manojipatti while Thennavan is employed as an office assistant in the Agriculture Department in Mayiladuthurai.

Palani and Tamizhmany had gone to bathe in the Kallanai canal at Manojipatti on Saturday evening when they were swept away by the strong current. Bystanders tried to rescue them. A complaint was filed by the family at the Thanjavur Medical College Police Station.

Personnel from the Thanjavur Fire and Rescue Services began search operations. However, they suspended the search operation late in the evening.

On Sunday morning, residents of Regunathapuram near Vettikkadu spotted Tamizhmany’s body in the canal. It was sent to the Government Hospital in Orathanadu for post-mortem. Later, Palani’s body was found near Pottuvachavadi in the same canal. His remains were sent to Thanjavur Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination.

Thanjavur Medical College Police have taken up investigation into the case.