CHENNAI: A 23-year-old college student from Dharmapuri district died after collapsing during a trekking expedition at the Velliangiri Hills early on Friday.
The deceased, identified as Mukesh Kumar, a resident of Peedamneri Perumal Koil Street in Dharmapuri district, was pursuing his fifth year of D Pharm at a private college near Perur in Coimbatore. He had been staying at Telungupalayam.
Mukesh Kumar, along with ten of his friends, had set out from Telungupalayam on Thursday night to Poondi with plans to trek the Velliangiri Hills and offer prayers at the Swayambulinga Swamy shrine, according to a Maalaimalar report.
When climbing the fifth hill with his friends, Mukesh reportedly developed sudden chest pain, fainted, and fell unconscious. His friends, alarmed by the incident, rushed down the hill to inform forest officials. Rescue personnel quickly reached the spot and carried him down using a stretcher.
However, ambulance staff stationed at the foothills confirmed that he had already died.
Alanthurai police were alerted and subsequently recovered the body, sending it to a government hospital for post-mortem examination. A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway.