Two Yemeni students missing after swimming at Kochi’s Valappu Beach

Two Yemeni students went missing at Valappu Beach of Elamkunnapuzha village in Ernakulam district on June 2. The students have been identified as 21-year-old Abdul Salam and 22-year-old Jabran Khalil.

They were part of a nine-member group which included seven students from Yemen and two from Sudan. They are students of Rathinam College of Arts and Sciences in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore district and were visiting Kochi according to reports. The incident occurred around 12.30 pm on June 2 afternoon.

The students were on vacation and were expected to return to their home countries the next day. They were enrolled in bachelor's programs in artificial intelligence and information technology. The police stated that Kochi was their last destination before heading back home.

According to the coastal police, all nine students went into the sea. While the others were able to swim to safety, two disappeared. As two of them were carried away by the currents, the others accompanying them screamed for help.

An official who spoke to TOI reportedly said there was no one in the vicinity to immediately rush to the students’ aid, including fishermen, as the incident occurred at 12:00 pm.

The search for the missing students is being conducted jointly by the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, Coastal Police, Marine Enforcement, the Fisheries Department, and the scuba team of the Fire and Rescue Services, reports say. A Fire and Rescue services officer has also told media persons that they arrived at the scene after receiving an alert from the nearby police station at around 1pm.

Reports add that rescue operations are challenging due dangerous undercurrents and high tides. Further, the sea here is known for its rough waves underwater trenches, reports also say. The students appear to have ignored warning boards put up on the beach.

The district collector is being kept informed regarding updates on the rescue operation.

As of June 3, the students are yet to be found.