Four, including 3 Stephen's students, drown in Kerala river

Kochi, Dec 17: Three students from Delhi's St Stephen's College and a resort owner from Kerala drowned in the Periyar river in the state this evening, police said. Third year Sanskrit students Anubhav Chandra and Aditya Patel, first year Chemistry student Kenneth John, and Benny, a private resort owner from Kerala, drowned around 6.30 PM at Paniyeli Poru -- a tourist spot.

The bodies were recovered and kept at the Taluk hospital at Perumbavoor, police said. Chandra hailed from Bihar and Patel belonged to Uttar Pradesh, police said. Kenneth John was a resident of Wayanad in Kerala. In Delhi, St Stephen's College Principal John Varghese confirmed the news saying it was true and they were in the process of finding out more details.

Police said the students had come to Kerala as part of a group of 11 students and 2 wardens to visit famous tourist spots. The incident occurred at Paniyeli Poru, a tourist spot where the river has dangerous clusters of slippery rocks, near Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district, police said.

The spot is known for its death traps for tourists because of strong undercurrents, though the water is only few feet deep, police said.