TN youth swept away at Varkala beach, search on

T'puram: An 18-year-old tourist from Tamil Nadu went missing after being swept away by strong waves while swimming at Papanasam beach in Varkala on Sunday morning. The missing person has been identified as Mohammed Afzal of Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu.According to officials, Afzal was part of a nine-member group that had arrived in Varkala earlier in the day as part of a trip. The group later went for a swim at Papanasam beach, a popular tourist destination known for its strong sea currents.While in the water, Afzal reportedly got caught in a strong undercurrent and was dragged further into the sea. Despite attempts by others present to alert authorities immediately, he was swept away by the waves within moments.Following the incident, a search operation was launched jointly by lifeguards, tourism police and members of water sports team. The search is currently under way, but Afzal has not yet been traced. Further search efforts are continuing.Tourism police officials said the sea was rough at the time of the incident, with powerful currents posing a risk to swimmers.Authorities have once again urged tourists and locals to exercise caution while entering the sea, especially at beaches like Papanasam where sudden changes in water current are common.Afzal worked as an autorickshaw driver in his hometown.