7 hrs ago
Thiruneermalai Child Drownings Highlight Chennai Water Safety Risks
Four children died in a lake near their homes in Thiruneermalai.
Police suspect they went into the water to swim and got stuck in muddy slush.
People who live in the area say many lakes and old quarries are easy for children to reach.
Some water can look shallow or safe but may suddenly become deep or muddy.
Other drowning tragedies have happened nearby, including when someone entered the water to try to save another person.
Residents and activists say dangerous water bodies need strong fences, gates and clear warning signs.
They also want schools to teach children not to jump in to rescue a friend.
Instead, children should call for help and find trained rescuers.
The article says authorities should work together on a plan to make these places safer.
Four children from Lakshmipuram went missing Saturday and were found dead the next morning in Thiruneermalai Periya Eri.
Police suspect the children entered the lake to swim and became trapped in slush.
The article cites other fatal drownings in nearby lakes and quarries, including cases where an untrained companion tried to rescue someone.
Residents and activists say urban growth has brought homes, schools and roads close to water bodies that often lack fencing and regular surveillance.
Suggested measures include mapping high-risk sites, installing barriers and clear warning signs, and teaching children to alert trained rescuers rather than enter the water.
- Who
- Four children from Lakshmipuram in Chromepet: Devadharshan, Yuvanesh, Pooja and Khushi.
- What
- They were found dead in Thiruneermalai Periya Eri after going missing; police suspect they entered the lake to swim and became trapped in slush.
- Where
- Thiruneermalai Periya Eri, in Chennai’s southern suburbs.
- When
- They went missing on Saturday afternoon and were found the next morning; the article does not specify the date.
- Why
- Police suspect the children entered the lake to swim and may have become trapped in slush.
Key facts
- Children who died
- Four: Devadharshan (12), Yuvanesh (10), Pooja (13) and Khushi (13)
- Lake
- Thiruneermalai Periya Eri
- Last seen
- Saturday afternoon
- Found
- The following morning
- ECR drowning deaths
- Police data cited in the article records 17 between January 2025 and February of the following year
- Proposed prevention
- Risk mapping, fencing, controlled access, clear hazard signs, surveillance and water-safety education
Quotes
S.M. Govindarajan
President of the Federation of Residents Welfare Associations of Tambaram Corporation.
“What was once a relatively isolated agricultural tank or quarry is now often surrounded by houses, schools, roads and densely populated neighbourhoods. Children can reach the water body within minutes as fencing and continuous surveillance are often absent.”
deccanchronicle.com
“The local bodies, police, revenue authorities or a private landowner should also take up responsibility for the fencing and monitoring.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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