On Sunday near Cuddalore A. Seven girls aged 10 to 18 drowned in a deep pit filled with water near a check dam on the Gedilam river in Kuchipalayam.
The deceased were identified as R.K. of Ayan Kurunjipadi village. Priyadarshini (15), her sister Divya Darshini, 10, A. Monisha, 16, M. Navneeta, 18, K. Priya, 18, S. Sangvi, 16, and M. Kumudha. , 18, all a. He hails from Kuchipalayam village.
The incident happened around 12.45 pm
Police said the girls gathered near a 15-feet deep pit located 300 meters from a check dam on the Gedilam river in the afternoon. The pit was filled with water after the recent rains. They went to the water to take a bath. When they went to the deep part of the pit, two girls got trapped inside and started drowning.
Others tried to save them, but they too drowned. On information, fire and rescue service personnel retrieved the bodies and sent them to the Cuddalore Government General Hospital (GH) for postmortem.
The family members of the victims gathered on GH as the sad news spread. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister MRK Panneerselvam and Cuddalore Collector K. Balasubramaniam met the family members at GH and consoled them.
Eyewitnesses said that there were many potholes on the banks of the river near the check dam and children often came to bathe.
warning board
When contacted, Mr. Balasubramaniam said that an RDO inquiry has been ordered into the incident. He said that the Revenue Department has been directed to put up warning boards in the area. He said that all the village administrative officers have been directed to take necessary precautionary measures to prevent drowning in all the water bodies.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin condoled the death of seven people and announced an assistance of ₹5 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund to the families of the deceased.
Mr. Panneerselvam told reporters that a soil test would be conducted in the area. He said that how the pit was formed, it will also be investigated. The minister gave ₹25,000 as his own contribution to help the families of the seven victims perform the last rites.
Labor Welfare and Skill Development Minister CV Ganesan and Panruthi MLA T. Velmurugan also met the family members at GH and consoled them.