Salem, September 17, 2013: Two persons who had gone to immerse Vinayaka idols near Mettur dam in River Cauvery drowned in separate incidents at Mettur and Mecheri in Salem district on Sunday.

G. Murugesan (27), a silversmith of Kaatur Natamangalam near Kondalampatti, and other villagers took the idol to River Cauvery to immerse it on Sunday. “It is learnt that after immersing the idol the victim and two of his friends went for a bath in the West Canal. Preliminary inquiries revealed that he did not know swimming and drowned,” the police said.

In another incident, C. Suresh (23) of Vedakathampatti, who went with other villagers to immerse the idol in River Cauvery at Kunandiyur was washed away.

A search was launched for the missing persons by the police with the help of the local fishermen. Their bodies that were washed ashore were recovered on Monday and taken to the Mettur Government Hospital for post-mortem examination.

Source: The Hindu, September 17, 2013