Chennai: Two men, who had come to Besant Nagar for the annual festival of Annai Velankanni Church, went missing after they were swept away by waves while bathing in the sea off Elliot’s Beach on Tuesday morning.
The missing men were identified as Tamilselvan , 22, and Manipalan, 27, of Pudupet. On information, personnel from Shastri Nagar police station, the Fire and Rescue Services department and the Coastal Security Group reached the spot, and launched a search operation.
Police said Tamilselvan was pulled into the sea first, and that Manipalan entered the water to rescue him. Both worked in a private company and had come to Besant Nagar to attend the church festival. Both were swept away by the waves within a short time. They could not be located till late in the evening.
Several thousand devotees had gathered in the area for the main chariot procession held on Monday. After the procession ended late on Monday night, Tamilselvan and Manipalan decided to stay back and slept on Elliot’s Beach. They entered the sea for a swim on Tuesday morning.