Tragedy struck a family on picnic as two of its members were killed and four others were feared drowned after a coracle capsized in Cauvery river in the famous tourist spot of Hogenakkal in the district today.
Three other members of the family, from Chennai, managed to reach the banks safely, police said.
"A nine-member family, including three children, went on a coracle ride from the boat house in Hogenakkal, and the boat capsized near Manalmedu," a senior Police official told PTI.
A 55-year-old woman and her two-and-half year old grandson drowned and their bodies have been retrieved, the official said.
"The coracle driver Murugesan has been detained. We are inquiring him," the official said.
A couple and their seven-year-old son managed to reach the bank safely while search was on for four others, including a ten-month old girl baby, by fire and rescue personnel.
The reason for the mishap is being probed and river water had apparently seeped into coracle swiftly, the official said.
Following the accident, coracle services, a major attraction at Hogenakkal besides the water falls, have been suspended temporarily.
