Fri Sep 19 16:09:13 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Two schoolboys, Lokesh (13) and Sanjay (12), drowned in the Chitlapakkam lake near Tambaram, India, on Thursday. The boys, both 8th graders at a government school in Selaiyur, were reported missing the previous day. Police suspect they entered the lake to bathe and accidentally drowned after venturing into deeper water, as neither knew how to swim. Their bodies were recovered and sent for post-mortem.
**News Article:**
**Tragedy Strikes Tambaram: Two Schoolboys Drown in Chitlapakkam Lake**
**CHENNAI, September 19, 2025** – Two schoolboys tragically drowned in the Chitlapakkam lake near Tambaram, Chennai, on Thursday, leaving their families and community in mourning.
The victims have been identified as Lokesh, 13, of Periyar Street, and Sanjay, 12, of Kannappan Street. Both were eighth-grade students at a government school in Selaiyur and close friends.
According to the Chitlapakkam police, the boys’ parents filed a missing person’s report after they failed to return home from school on Wednesday. Walkers discovered the bodies in the lake and alerted authorities.
Preliminary investigations suggest the boys entered the lake to bathe, leaving their belongings on the shore. Police suspect they inadvertently wandered into deeper water and drowned, as neither knew how to swim.
“It’s a heartbreaking incident,” said a police spokesperson. “Our initial investigation indicates the boys were simply enjoying themselves after school, and this terrible accident occurred.”
The bodies have been sent to Chromepet Government Hospital for post-mortem examination. The police are continuing their investigation.
This tragic incident has renewed calls for increased safety measures around local bodies of water, especially during the monsoon season. The local community is offering support to the grieving families.