CHENNAI: Three students from a religious mutt in Selaiyur tragically drowned on Monday during a temple ritual at the Veeraraghava Perumal Temple in Tiruvallur, about 60 km from Chennai. The incident occurred amidst the ongoing Chithirai Brahmotsavam festival.
The students had traveled to the temple to take part in religious recitations and observances. While performing Sandhyavandanam—a daily Vedic ritual significant in Dvija traditions—near the temple pond, the three reportedly slipped and fell into the water.
A fellow student who witnessed the accident raised an alarm, prompting nearby locals to rush in and attempt a rescue. Two of the students were declared dead at the scene, while the third died en route to the hospital. The victims have been identified as Hariharan, Venkatraman, and Veeraraghavan.
Tiruvallur City Police, along with fire and rescue teams, retrieved the bodies and transported them to the Tiruvallur Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the mishap.
This tragedy follows a similar incident in April 2023, when five young men drowned in a temple tank during the Theerthavari festival at Dharmalingeshwarar Temple in Nanganallur, after slipping into the deep end while participating in a group ritual.
