Fire and Rescue Services team engaged in rescue operations at Nedupuzha on Friday night
| Photo Credit: special arrangement
Two persons who went missing after a mini boat capsized in the Kole Wetland at Nedupuzha in Thrissur district of Kerala during heavy rain on Friday evening were found dead on Saturday morning.
A scuba team from the Thrissur Fire Station recovered the bodies after more than an hour-long search around 8 a.m. The Nedupuzha police had been verifying since Friday night whether the two missing persons had escaped unnoticed. The Fire and Rescue Services had suspended the search around 10 p.m. on Friday after more than three hours due to poor visibility and adverse weather.
Of the five persons aboard the boat, three had managed to swim to safety. The group had gone to feed fish in the Kole Wetland, leased by one Sunil for aquaculture. The identities of the victims were yet to be confirmed, as they were known only to Sunil, who was reportedly among those who escaped.
“We recovered the boat on Friday night itself and marked the area for further search in the morning. The bodies were found intertwined about 25 metres from the shore. They have been handed over to the Nedupuzha police for formalities, including post-mortem,” said P.S. Binu, senior fire officer who led the scuba team.
Though the vessel had an engine, it was reportedly not functional and was rowed manually. It is believed to have capsized after being caught in the inclement weather that prevailed in Thrissur district through Friday. A holiday has been declared in the district on Saturday as well owing to continuing bad weather.
Vulnerable spot
Local residents said that the spot where the accident occurred is particularly vulnerable, with deep waters, and has witnessed similar accidents in the past.
The Kole Wetlands, spanning Thrissur and Malappuram districts, traditionally alternate between paddy cultivation and aquaculture.
Published – July 04, 2026 09:29 am IST
