Kannur (Kerala) | Two people from Karnataka, who were part of two different tourist groups, were rescued from the sea at the Payyambalam beach here on Saturday after being swept away by the waves while swimming, district officials said.
A third person, who was part of one of the two groups and was also swept away, is yet to be found, the officials said.
Fishermen and lifeguards are continuing the search for him under the supervision of the Azheekal Coastal Police and the Fisheries Department with help of the Ezhimala Naval Academy also being sought, they said.
State Tourism Minister P C Vishnunadh, who was present in the district, reached the beach and assessed the rescue operations, they said.
He also said that more lifeguards will be deployed on the beach and warning boards will be put up there, a statement by the district administration said.
The first incident occurred at 9.15 am when an eight-member group of tourists from Mysuru entered the sea and one of them -- Chirant Sharma (24) -- got swept away. But, he was rescued by the lifeguards, the statement said.
The second incident occurred around 1.30 pm when a second group of tourists, comprising four members from Rural Bengaluru, went into the sea for swimming and two of them got swept away, it said.
Of the two, Manoj was rescued and is undergoing treatment, while the search continues for Santosh Kumar (20), it added. Both groups reached the beach after visiting the Kottiyoor temple, the statement said.
