Palakkad: Three children drowned in a pond in Thudikode, Kalladikode, here on Tuesday. The deceased were Pradeep (5), his younger brother Pratheesh (4) and their relative Radhika (10). The incident occurred when the trio went swimming in a pond at Kalladikode.

The children were reported missing by afternoon. "We spotted one of their footwear near the pond. Suspecting that they had drowned, we searched for them in the pond. We pulled out one boy, then continued and pulled out another. We couldn't find the girl at first, so we rushed the two boys to the hospital," a resident told Manorama News.

Pradeep and Pratheesh were rushed to Palakkad General Hospital, but doctors declared them dead on arrival. Later, Radhika was found and taken to a private hospital, but she was declared dead as well. Her body will be shifted to the Palakkad General Hospital.