Udayamperoor: The jubilation of the study tour of students of Mangalam Engineering college in Kottayam’s Ettumanoor which kicked off on Wednesday evening did not last long as a mishap on Thursday claimed three lives.

The group was on their trip to places like Udupi, Coorg and Mangaluru. Three final year engineering students, Amal C Anil of Kuzhimattom, Allen Reji of Pampadi and Chiramel Antony Shinoy of Udayamperoor, while taking a selfie at a cluster of rocks at the beach on St Mary's Island near Malpe in the Udupi district were hit by strong waves. They lost their control, slipped into the sea and drowned. The tour was called off by college authorities and the campus and the families of the deceased are now mourning over the unforeseen tragedy.

The mishap happened around 2:30 PM. The college authorities informed the affected students' families that the trio slipped into the sea and is missing.

Until 6:30 PM Antony Shinoy's father Johnson had hope. But he was informed that his son succumbed. Johnson who is a truck driver was shocked and thrown into despair. “After three months my son would have been working in a company in Infopark. He was about to finish his graduation,” he broke down and said. Notably, her sister’s marriage was slated to happen on May 29.

In the case of Allen Reji’s family, he was the only hope for them. Despite financial constraints, the family was determined to give him the best education. The family kept its fingers crossed that once the graduation program is completed, he will find a job. But all their dreams have been shattered. Even locals in the region were found of Allen’s character. He was very polite, they said.

Similar is the case of Amal C Anil’s family. The parents who earned a livelihood from occupations such as driving and stitching had a hope that Amal will steer the family further. He has been a great support to his ailing grandfather. “After drowning death of one of his friends, he used to say that he fears water,” his grandmother remembered while expressing her grief.

Meanwhile, an abominable lull has hit the campus. The friends are not still out of the shock of the mishap.