16th October 1999

3.15 PM, 16th of October 1999, while at work, we received a phone call from India, saying that our son Vijayan had fallen into the waters of Hogenakkal falls, and that hey were searching him. The caller was a college mate of Vijayan, who said that Vijayan had fallen in to the waters while trying to fetch water from the river, but he assured us that Vijay will be ok. A while later later we Vijayan's College Chairman called from Kodaikanal, which is about about 350 km away from where the accident occurred. He said all the students had gone on an industrial trip but unfortunately there was a problem concerning Vijayan.



Being on the college basketball team, Vijayan travels to other colleges with the team and whenever got time would visit our relatives. Wherever he goes he will inform us. This time we were surprised to know that Vijayan went somewhere without informing us. We panicked and called every place where we could get any help. My wife fainted several times and I was in a terrible shock and did not know what to do. We were helpless and with great difficulty drove back home, from work.

Vijayan's college mates called again and said that as the it was getting dark and rainy so they were suspending the search for Vijayan, for the day. When we asked the students how Vijayan was there in that group of students when he did not belong to it, they said the students made Vijayan to go with them but the supervisor of the group hadn’t authorized it.



Many of our friends came helped us to get on the next available flight to India. We thank them from the bottom of our heart. We reached Mumbai airport that night, from there we went to the domestic terminal to take a plane to Bangalore.