Kannur:A leisure trip turned tragic for a group of Pharmacy students when three of them, hailing from Bangalore, drowned while swimming in the Arabian Sea at Payyambalam. The victims have been identified as Afnan Ahammed, Rahanudheen, and Mohammed Afras, all students of St. Philomena’s College, Bengaluru, according to police. A group of 11 students of St Philomenas College, Bangalore, had arrived in Kannur on November 1 and were camping at a resort near Payyambalam beach, UNI reported. The incident occurred around noon, when eight students entered the sea for swimming. Mohammed Afras was swept away by the waves first and the other two victims attempted to save Afras, but they were also swept away. As per IANS report, Kannur City Police have registered a case of unnatural death and are coordinating with college authorities and the victims’ families in Karnataka to facilitate transportation of the bodies Though Payyambalam beach is one of Kannur’s most popular tourist destinations, it has witnessed multiple drowning incidents in recent years, especially during the post-monsoon season, due to strong rip currents. Officials have once again urged visitors to heed safety advisories and avoid venturing into the sea during turbulent conditions. Locals and tourists at the beach were visibly shaken as news of the tragedy spread. In light of the incident, authorities are reportedly considering stricter restrictions on swimming in vulnerable stretches of the coastline—particularly during early morning and evening hours when lifeguard presence is limited.