The residents of Thiruvambady and Kodenchery are opposing the flow of tourists near the tricky Iruvanji river and its tributaries- Arippara, Pathankayam and Marippizha. According to reports, the residents are pleading the tourists to stay away from the waters, at least till the start of summer to avoid the increasing number of drowning deaths. The locals are appealing to the tourists to stay away from the waters through a video on social media, stated a report. The nature of the river cannot be predicted as heavy rainfall in the forest areas cause a flash flood anytime.

Drowning incidents 

According to the residents, over the past 20 years, nearly 50 people have lost their lives in Ariparra, Pathankayam and the nearby areas of Iruvanji river. Recently, two youths went missing in the separate incidents on Wednesday. In one incident, a 15-year old boy who went to have a bath in the Kozhikode beach went missing. He was trapped in the high waves, reported authorities. His body was recovered on Thursday. In a similar incident on the same day, a young boy went missing in the Pathangayam waterfall. The search is still on, reported authorities. In another incident last week, two professional kayakers drowned in the Kadanthara river near Chembanoda during a practice session due to the risky water. Although, the local residents managed to pull out the two bodies on small ropes, local rafts and other accessories. 

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About Iruvanji river 

The Iruvanji river separates Thiruvambady and Kodenchery gram panchayats. The scenic beauty of the river has been attracting a large number of tourists to the spots. Moreover, the International Kayaking Festival held in the river attracts a large number of adventure lovers to Arippara, Pathankayam and Marippizha. According to authorities as suggested by the reports, most of the tourists drown in the water due to not following the safety guidelines. Other reasons cited were the flash floods and rocky river beds.

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