Thiruvananthapuram, Friday, 27 August 2010: Thousands paid homage on Friday to five youths who had lost their lives in Kundal dam near Munnar on Thursday. The bodies of the five youths drowned at the dam have been brought to Kazhakootam, their hometown in the district this evening.

The victims of the tragedy Sreejith, Ratheesh, Rajesh, Manu Mohan and Bharath, residents of Kazhakootam in the district, had drowned while taking bath in the restricted area of the dam, on Thursday noon.

People from various parts of the district thronged the school from morning to pay their last respects to the dead. Heart-rending scenes were witnessed when the bodies were taken out from the ambulances.

Minister M.Vijayakumar, Mayor Jayan Babu and various other prominent figures reached the venue to pay homage.

The bodies of the five deceased had been handed over to their relatives after post-mortem at Adimali Taluk hospital in Idukki district. The corpses were brought home in five ambulances.

The cremation of the men would be held today late night, informed the families of victims.

Earlier report

Five youths have drowned in the Kunadala dam near Munnar, Idukki district today. The persons have been identified as Ratheesh (24 years), Sreejith (25), Rajesh (21), Manu Mohan(18) and Bharat (24) all residents of Kazhakoottam.

The fire force and police personnel recovered the body of all five persons from the Kundala dam after hours of search operations. The Munnar police said five tourists from Thiruvananthapuram were taking bath near the dam, where the water level has risen due to heavy rains over the past three days.