CHENNAI: Rohit, a 17-year-old looking forward to joining college soon, drowned in the backwaters at Kalpakkam when he went swimming with his friends on Thursday evening.

Rohit had reached the deeper portion of the portion and started to drown. His friends' rescue efforts went in vain, and they alerted local villagers, who rushed him to a private hospital in Chennai.

Kalpakkam police visited the spot and sent the body for post-mortem to the Chengalpattu GH, and the police have registered a case.

The villagers mentioned that many are unaware that the backwaters area in Kalpakkam is one of the deepest parts, and visit the place at night and evening. They requested the district administration to ban swimming in the backwaters as it is risky.