Five people, including three women of a family were washed away while taking bath in river Cauvery in Salem district, about 120 km from here, today, police said.
Despite warning issued by the district administration against venturing into the river, six people entered the river near Reddiyur, some 80 kms from Salem, for taking bath.
All of them were washed away in the gushing waters, they said.
However, a college student, Thanushree, was rescued by locals on the river bank and rushed to hospital for treatment.
Police along with Fire and Rescue Services personnel department searched along the river and retrieved four bodies while a search is on for another one.
Salem District Collector, Rohini and senior officials rushed to the spot.
The collector had already warned people not to venture into the river, which is in the spate due to heavy inflow of water from Karnataka and also release from Mettur dam.