Three persons, including a couple from Namakkal district, drowned in the Cauvery near the Pasur check dam in Erode district on Sunday (May 17).
The deceased were identified as Perumal (35) and his wife Bharathi (34) of Tiruchengode; and Pradeepa (21) of Sithampoondi near Paramathi Velur.
According to police, Perumal and Bharathi had come to Sithampoondi with their sons Likhith (14) and Sujith (12) to visit relatives. Around Sunday afternoon, the family, along with Pradeepa and another woman, Srimathi, went to the river near the Pasur check dam for bathing.
Pradeepa reportedly slipped into a deeper stretch of the river, following which Bharathi and the two boys, who were near her, were also pulled into the river. Perumal reportedly entered the water to rescue them but drowned.
On hearing their cries, people in the vicinity rushed to the spot and rescued Likhith, Sujith and Srimathi. However, Perumal died on the spot, while Bharathi and Pradeepa succumbed while being taken to hospital, police said.
The bodies were sent for post-mortem examination, and the Malayampalayam police have registered a case.