Four schoolchildren who went missing from their homes on Saturday were found dead in Thiruneermalai lake on Sunday, police said. The children were two boys and two girls who lived on Krishna Street in Lakshmipuram, Chromepet.
Police identified the victims as K. Devadarshan, 12, D. Yuvanesh, 10, Pooja, 13, and Khushi, 13. Devadarshan was studying in Class 7 at a government school. Pooja and Khushi were Class 8 students at a government school, while Yuvanesh attended Class 6 at a private school.
The children were last seen playing together near their homes on Saturday afternoon. They later left the neighbourhood and did not return, leading their families to begin a search.
Search for the children
The parents contacted relatives and friends and shared the children's graphs in local WhatsApp groups. Residents were asked to provide information that could help locate them.
When the search produced no leads and the children could not be traced late into the night, the parents of the two boys filed a missing persons complaint at Chromepet police station.
Police also alerted personnel at Tambaram, Egmore and Chennai Central railway stations. The Kelambakkam bus terminus was included in the alert, with personnel asked to check whether the children had travelled away from the area.
Bodies recovered from lake
The search ended on Sunday after members of the public visiting Thiruneermalai Periya Eri, near Lakshmipuram, saw four bodies floating in the water and informed authorities.
Police and Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services personnel reached the lake and recovered the bodies. Family members identified the children after they were brought ashore.
The bodies were then sent to the mortuary at Tambaram District Government Hospital for -mortem examinations.
Investigation continues
Investigators are examining how the children reached the lake and the circumstances in which they entered the water. Police suspect they became trapped in slush and drowned, but the sequence leading to their deaths has not yet been established.
Police enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the deaths are continuing.
Conclusion
The four children were found dead after a search that began when they failed to return home on Saturday. Their bodies were recovered from Thiruneermalai lake, while police continue to investigate what happened.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When did the children go missing?
They went missing from their homes on Saturday after being seen playing near their houses that afternoon.
Q. Where did the children live?
They lived on Krishna Street in Lakshmipuram, Chromepet.
Q. How many children died?
Four children died: two boys and two girls.
Q. Where were the bodies found?
The bodies were found floating in Thiruneermalai lake, also referred to as Thiruneermalai Periya Eri.
Q. What are police investigating?
Police are investigating how the children reached the lake and the circumstances in which they entered the water.
Q. Where were the bodies taken?
The bodies were sent to the mortuary at Tambaram District Government Hospital for -mortem examinations.
