Chennai: A holiday trip to the beach turned fatal when five teeangers were drowned while playing in the sea waters at Kasimedu fishing harbour on Sunday evening.
Sources said while the body of one of them was washed ashore Sunday night, the other four were retrieved by the Tamilnadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS) rescue team on Monday afternoon.
Despite a ban on public entry into the beach in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, people were seen thronging the beaches on weekends and holidays.
Three families along with their children came to the beach last evening. While the parents were sitting on the shore, their wards started playing in the sea waters, when they were dragged by strong waves.
One Arulraj (19), who saw them struggling, jumped into the sea in a bid to save them. But he also met with the watery grave as his body was washed ashore last night.
After a hectic search that started last evening, personnel from Fire Stations at Royapuram, Thiruvotriyur, swimmers from Marina Rescue Team, Indian Coast Guard and fishermen, retrieved the bodies of four children which were found floating in the water.
They were identified as Durga (17), Vishnu (14) and twins Margaret and Martin (13).
District Fire Officer K Rajesh Kannan and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Washermenpet, G Subbulakshmi monitored the rescue operations.