A farmer who opened a sluice in the Kalingarayan canal near Kodumudi on Friday (July 24) reportedly drowned after being swept away by water.

The deceased was identified as Palanisamy (50), a farmer from Panappalayam near Kodumudi. He owned agricultural land irrigated by the Kalingarayan canal system. With water having recently been released into the canal, Palanisamy entered the canal to open the sluice to divert water to his field. The sluice had been temporarily blocked with a gunny sack to regulate the flow.

Police said that after removing the sack, Palanisamy was caught in the sudden gush of water. He was swept away and drowned before fellow farmers could rescue him.