5 SRM medical college MBBS students Drown In Sea Off Kanyakumari Coast

Tiruchirappalli: In a tragic incident, 5 final year MBBS students of a private medical college in Tamil Nadu’s Trichy, who went to Nagercoil to attend a wedding, drowned in the sea off the Rajakkamangalam Lemur Beach on Monday morning.

According to the police, all five deceased medicos, two women and three men house surgeons, were final-year students of Trichy SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre. One of the victims was from Andhra Pradesh, and the other four were from Tamil Nadu, all in the age group of 23-24 years. The police said all bodies have been recovered.

Speaking to PTI, the police said, "Five students of a private medical college in Tiruchirappalli drowned in the sea off the coast of Kanniyakumari on Monday... A group of MBBS students doing their house surgeonship in the Tiruchirappalli college went to the Lemur Beach at Rajakkamangalam and a huge wave dragged several of them into the sea."

"Two women and 3 men drowned," Kanniyakumari police superintendent E Sundaravathanam said.

To a question, the police official said the students were told by local people to avoid going to the beach in view of official warnings of sudden 'swell waves.'

The students, however, managed to reach the beach by going through a coconut grove. They arrived in Kanniyakumari district on May 5 to take part in the wedding of a student's brother, the official said adding the bodies were being sent to the families, adds PTI.

Three students, who were part of the group, are being treated at a government hospital.

“There were high tides, and a security staff posted there had warned them. As they were close to the water, enjoying the sea, a strong wave hit them and dragged seven people. Two were rescued soon, but five students lost their lives due to drowning. One of the rescued is in critical condition and admitted to the hospital. A case has been registered, and an investigation is ongoing,” an officer informed The Indian Express.

Meanwhile, expressing grief, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin conveyed his condolences and sympathies to the kin of the deceased and said necessary assistance would be provided to the bereaved families after getting the Election Commission's permission.