When the Pampa river gushes towards the sprawling paddy fields of Thrikkannapuram, Pathanamthitta, youths row around in small boats for fishing. They pass taunts, cheer a good catch, and look forward to evenings, not anymore. The villagers pass by the fields with a sense of grief. Three youths drowned here on Sunday after their fibre boat capsized during a fishing trip.

The victims—Marupparambil Mithun (29), his brother-in-law Devashankar (38), and their close friend Rahul C Narayanan (28)—were all experienced swimmers and familiar with the terrain, having visited the area often during monsoons. When they fell into the water, they could barely move as their hands were entangled in the thick underwater grass. The youths were close to residents and active participants in gatherings.

It was a quiet evening with no signs of rain when tragedy struck. Locals were alerted by sudden screams. The trio was attempting to retrieve a fishing net that had gotten entangled beneath the surface when their boat capsized roughly 150 metres from the shore.

Locals managed to rescue Mithun and Rahul, but both were unresponsive and declared dead at the hospital. Devashankar remained missing despi

te immediate search efforts by scuba teams from Pathanamthitta and Thiruvalla. Poor visibility and the thick underwater growth forced the search to be suspended around 9.15 pm.

Search operations resumed the following morning with additional support from Chengannur. Devashankar’s body was recovered at around 2.15 pm on Monday, nearly 20 hours after the incident. He was found just 40 metres from the shore, his leg covered in underwater weeds, his body in a standing position—evidence, officials believe, that he was swimming to safety before getting trapped.

Fire and rescue personnel described the underwater environment as deceptive. “From above, the water appears clear,” said Sujith Nair, a firefighter from Pathanamthitta station, involved in the operation. “But beneath the surface, dense grass and creepers block both visibility and movement. The water here is around 3.5 metres deep, but the vegetation grows even taller.”

Fire officer Sabu added that the initial emergency call, received around 6.45 pm on Sunday, had reported two men missing. “When we arrived, locals had already taken two victims to the hospital. They then informed us about a third missing person, prompting us to continue the search. If not for the thick vegetation, we might have recovered the third one that night itself,” he said.

The 90-acre paddy field, adjacent to the Pamba River, is a seasonal water body used for paddy cultivation. During monsoons, when fields remain submerged, locals often fish or boat in the area. Koipuram panchayat member Omanakuttan said it is a popular gathering place with no formal restrictions on access.

All three victims were confident swimmers. Mithun, in particular, had been part of the Koipuram palliyodam (snake boat team) since the age of 15 and regularly trained for major races like the Uthrittathi boat race. They were not unfamiliar with the terrain or strong currents, but the treacherous underwater vegetation that no one anticipated became a trap.

The initial confusion about how many individuals were missing also delayed rescue efforts. Local resident and relative Bini Shaji recounted how a visibly shaken man had come running to the spot, saying Mithun and Rahul were missing, along with someone named 'Jithu'—who was later found elsewhere. “Since I had seen Devan heading to join the group earlier, I informed the authorities that he was also likely missing,” she said.

Bini and other locals were among the first to respond. “We saw two heads in the water and threw dhotis, hoping they could use them for support. But they couldn’t hold on,” she said. “Mithun was the first we pulled out—he was already motionless. A few minutes later, we got Rahul, and when we pressed his stomach, he blinked once. We rushed him to the hospital, but it was too late.”

Devashankar, originally from Thiruvalla, had settled in Nellikkal after marrying Rajani, a local resident. The couple have two children—Devananda (Class 5) and Rudra (Class 3). Mithun is survived by his parents, Mani and Jayasree, and younger brother Nithin. Rahul was a native of Kidangannoor. He is survived by his mother, Leela, and sisters Radhika and Renuka.

Mithun worked on CCTV installation and maintenance, while Devashankar ran a fabrication workshop in Nellikkal. The fibre boat they used belonged to Suresh, a taxi driver and relative of Mithun, who also took part in the rescue operation.

Autopsies of Mithun and Rahul were completed on Monday at the Pathanamthitta District Hospital. Devashankar's autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday. Funeral services for Mithun and Devashankar will be held on Wednesday, while Rahul’s funeral is planned for Tuesday evening at his home in Kidangannoor.