Body of Medical Student Swept Away at Kodaikanal Waterfall Recovered after Three Days

The body of a 21-year-old medical student from Coimbatore was recovered on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, three days after he was swept away by powerful currents at the Anjuveedu waterfall near Kodaikanal. Nandakumar, a fourth-year student at a private medical college in Coimbatore, was part of a group of 11 friends who had travelled to the popular hill station for a weekend getaway. The incident occurred amid heavy monsoon rains that have battered Tamil Nadu, prompting a red alert from the India Meteorological Department for extremely heavy rainfall in the region. Despite repeated warnings from authorities about the dangers of the site, the group ventured off designated paths, leading to the tragic mishap.

The waterfall, located along the scenic Kodaikanal-Vilpatti route, is renowned for its cascading beauty but poses severe risks during the rainy season due to swollen streams and unpredictable surges. Police reports indicate that five members of the group, including Nandakumar, ignored safety barriers and climbed down a rocky, off-trail edge to bathe in the waters around midday on Saturday, October 18. Torrential downpours had intensified the currents, sweeping Nandakumar away in an instant while his companions watched in horror. Rescue efforts were immediately launched, but challenging weather, including relentless rain and fog, hampered initial searches, turning the operation into a gruelling three-day ordeal involving multiple agencies.

A coordinated response from the Fire and Rescue Services, local police, forest department officials, and villagers mobilised drones, boats, and foot patrols to scour the rugged terrain and downstream areas, navigating slippery slopes and swollen rivers. The search was complicated by the area's dense vegetation and the waterfall's remote access, but persistence paid off when Nandakumar's body was located submerged in a pool several kilometres downstream. Officials noted that the recovery was made possible through community assistance, with locals providing crucial insights into the terrain. This incident echoes similar tragedies at Anjuveedu, where at least three other drownings have been reported in the past two years, prompting renewed calls for stricter enforcement of viewing-only zones and awareness campaigns.

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The recovery has brought a measure of closure to Nandakumar's grieving family and friends, who had maintained a vigil at the site since the weekend. Tamil Nadu's tourism department has reiterated advisories urging visitors to adhere to guided paths and avoid water activities during monsoons, especially in eco-sensitive hill stations like Kodaikanal. As the state continues to reel from widespread flooding and landslides—exacerbated by the ongoing weather emergency—authorities are reviewing safety protocols at popular waterfalls to prevent future losses. Nandakumar's death serves as a stark reminder of nature's unforgiving power, underscoring the importance of heeding warnings in pursuit of adventure.

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