The body of an eight-year old boy, who drowned in a quarry pond, was fished out on Tuesday morning near Tirupur.

Lakshmanan, a fourth grader from Government School, had gone to the pond in a quarry to clean himself after playing with his friends on Monday evening. He slipped and fell into the pond.

His friends immediately informed the police, who along with Fire and Rescue personnel tried to save him. As it became dark, they could not do anything. The body was retrieved only this morning, police said.

However, the boy’s parents and relatives alleged that the rescue personnel reached late. They staged a protest, which they withdrew later following police intervention.