Lankan man jumps into sea, swims to Indian shore
A 24-year-old man, who escaped Sri Lanka in a boat bound for India, leaped into the sea near the Tamil Nadu coast and swam to shore, according to police reports on Monday. The young man had joined a 5-member family for a clandestine journey from Talaimannar in Sri Lanka to India on the night of October 8, traveling in a boat, as confirmed by a marine police official.
As the boat approached the Tamil Nadu coast, the man, identified as Kasankan Ravichandran, jumped into the sea from a sand dune/islet. He successfully swam to the shore near Mandapam, crossing the Arichalmunai-Dhanushkodi areas along the coastal region. Kasankan reported to officials in Mandapam on Sunday and is currently undergoing questioning. His journey covered an estimated distance of 6-8 nautical miles.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Kasankan possessed an expired Sri Lankan passport from 2020, and his parents are reportedly residing in Puducherry. A thorough probe is underway, according to the official.
Meanwhile, the other five individuals, consisting of a man, his wife, and their three children, safely reached the Mandapam Rehabilitation Camp operated by the Tamil Nadu government.
