Child drowns in sea, mother missing

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A child drowned and his mother went missing in the sea off the Muthalapozhi coast on Wednesday after the mother allegedly jumped off the Muthalapozhi bridge into the sea near the estuary. According to the Kadinamkulam police, fishermen returning from the sea and a few local people standing near the bridge had seen Sumi, 28, a native of Poothura near Anchuthengu and resident of Mampally, jumping off the bridge around 3.30 p.m., holding her three-and-a-half-year-old son Dawn. The fishermen and the local people, who rushed to the spot, managed to take Dawn out of the water soon, but he was declared brought dead at the Chirayinkeezhu Taluk hospital.

A search and rescue effort, calling in the Fire and Rescue Services personnel and Marine Enforcement personnel from Vizhinjam is still on to trace Sumi, the police said.

As per available information, Sumi, a dance teacher with a school at Poothura, had left her husband’s home at Mampally in the morning after telling her in-laws that she was taking Dawn, who was not well, to the hospital. What led her to the extreme step is being investigated. Sumi’s husband Pradeep is in the Gulf. The body of Dawn, meanwhile, has been shifted to the Chirayinkeezhu Taluk hospital morgue, the police said. Mother allegedly jumped off the Muthalapozhi bridge into the sea with the child.