A 60-year-old woman was washed away in a flash flood in the Palar river near Katpadi town in Vellore on Thursday.
Police said the deceased woman has been identified as V. Geetha, a native of Kavanur village near KV Kuppam. Initial investigation revealed that farmer S. Vajiram (70) and his family members including wife Geeta, son Ashok Kumar (35) and daughter-in-law Poornima (30) were involved in cow rearing at their farm in the village.
Police said the family was also driving cattle to pastures along the river. Together with her daughter-in-law Geetha, she took her cows across the river and left the animals to graze. After some time, the pair found that a cow was missing from the herd. They discovered that the animal had been hit by flash floods in the river. Unaware of the danger, they tried to cross the river to save the animal.
As the water level rose, they called for help. Passers-by and other farmers immediately rushed to the spot. They managed to bring the two women to the river enclosure. Acting on a tip-off, KV Kuppam police conducted a search of the spot. The two women were admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Vellore, where doctors said Geetha was brought dead, while Poornima is undergoing treatment. A case has been registered. A probe is underway.
Published – 14 Nov 2025 23:31 IST
