2 nursing students drown in canal

Kochi: Two nursing students drowned in the Periyar Valley Canal at Ashamannoor, near Perumbavoor, after being caught in a powerful current. The victims, Ajmal Habeeb of Malappuram and Ajsal of Kollam, were students of KMP Nursing Institute. Their companion, Emil Sunil from Vaikom in Kottayam, was rescued and is undergoing treatment in critical condition at Mar Baselios Medical Mission Hospital. According to reports, they entered the canal around 11am to cool off from the sweltering heat. Within moments, they were washed away by the strong current.Residents in the vicinity rushed to help and alerted emergency services. Fire and rescue teams from Perumbavoor and Kothamangalam launched a search operation. One of the youths was retrieved alive and taken to hospital, while the other two were found later. TNN