'Went out to play': 4 school students found dead in Thiruneermalai lake near Chennai

CHENNAI: Four school students who went missing on October 3 were found dead in Thiruneermalai lake near Chromepet on Sunday, police said.The deceased, all residents of Krishna Street in Lakshmipuram, were identified as Pooja, 13, Khushi, 13, K Devadarshan, 12, and Yuvanesh, 10.The two girls were studying in Class VIII, while the boys were in Classes VII and VI, respectively, police told news agency PTI.The children had gone out to play in their neighbourhood on Saturday but did not return home.Their parents and relatives searched for them and circulated their photographs in local WhatsApp groups, but could not trace them.Separate missing-person complaints were subsequently filed at Chromepet police station late Saturday night.Around 10am on Sunday, residents spotted four bodies floating in Thiruneermalai Periya Eri and alerted the authorities.Personnel from the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS) reached the spot and recovered the bodies, police said.A preliminary investigation suggested that the children may have entered the lake to bathe and drowned after getting trapped in the slush, police said.Family members identified the bodies, which were then sent to the Tambaram District Government Hospital mortuary for postmortem examination.Police have registered a case, and further investigation is underway.(With agency inputs)You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Chennai | Silver Rate in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai | Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Petrol Price in Chennai | Diesel Price in Chennai | CNG Price in Chennai | LPG Price in ChennaiStay updated with the latest Chennai news. Download the TOI App.