Moolamattom: A man drowned while trying to rescue his daughter who was caught in a current while taking bath in a canal here in Idukki district on Saturday. The girl, who held on to the branch of a tree, escaped.
The deceased has been identified as Niravadiyil Pradeepan, 45, of Rajapuram in Kasaragod.
The tragedy happened as Pradeepan and his three family members were visiting a relative's house at Moolamattom. After jumping into the canal Pradeepan managed to get hold of his drowning daughter Paurnami, 11, and carried her on his shoulder, but drowned while swimming ashore.
Meanwhile, Pradeepan's wife informed the nearby forest station. The forest department personnel arrived and dropped a rope for Pradeepan to climb up, but he couldn't. He was exhausted by the time and pushed the girl towards a tree near the canal and went down.
Ranjit, a local resident, tried to rescue the girl. By that time, fire force personnel too arrived, they helped both Ranjit and Paurnami to get on the bank safely.
Local residents and fire force personnel later spotted Pradeepan and took him to hospital but he couldn't be saved. The body was taken to his native place after post-mortem at the district hospital.
Pradeepan is survived by wife Radhamani, children Pradhyutha and Paurnami.
