The bodies of two men who went missing after a fibre boat capsized in the kole fields at Nedupuzha in Thrissur district on Friday evening were recovered on Saturday morning, as residents cautioned against venturing into the wetlands during the monsoon.The deceased were identified as Binoj, 49, of Thrikkur and Sajil, 48, of Karuvannur.A scuba team from the Thrissur Fire and Rescue Services recovered the bodies around 8 a.m. Rescue operations, which began soon after the accident on Friday evening, had to be suspended around 10 p.m. because of poor visibility and heavy rain.“We had recovered the capsized boat on Friday night and marked the location for the morning search. The bodies were found intertwined about 25 metres from the shore,” said P.S. Binu, Senior Fire Officer who led the operation.The five-member group had set out in a small fibre boat to feed fish in an aquaculture farm in the kole fields when the boat overturned in heavy rain and gusty winds. Three persons managed to survive, while Binoj and Sajil went missing.The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the hidden dangers of kole wetlands during the monsoon. Though the vast stretches of water appear calm, local residents say they become extremely hazardous after heavy rain.“The water may not look deep, but thick slush, floating hyacinth, aquatic weeds and creepers beneath the surface can easily trap a person. Those unfamiliar with the terrain often find it impossible to swim back to safety,” said a local resident.The three survivors — Sunil, who had leased the kole field for fish farming, and his two workers — managed to swim ashore as they were familiar with the terrain. Binoj and Sajil, however, were unfamiliar with the wetland and were unable to navigate the rain-swollen waters, local residents said.The accident spot near Karimpatta kole has witnessed similar mishaps in the past. Residents recalled that another person had drowned in the same area during the monsoon about three years ago, renewing calls for greater caution while venturing into the kole fields during periods of heavy rain. Published - July 04, 2026 07:56 pm IST