The family of Vedatman Poduval, a 21-year-old student from Tripunithura, Kerala, is grappling with grief and uncertainty after his body was discovered in a canal in Toronto, Canada. Vedatman, a third-year Computer Science student at York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering, had been reported missing on June 2 and was found dead four days later in the Seaton Channel on June 6.
According to Toronto Police, Vedatman was last seen by friends near his residence close to campus on the evening of June 1. CCTV footage later confirmed he was alone near Keele Street and Finch Avenue West around 8:40 pm that night. Despite an alert suggesting he may have been in the Waterloo region, his last confirmed location remained Toronto.
After his disappearance, a public search was launched and his details, height, weight, attire, and physical features, were widely circulated. The footage was initially released on police websites but removed following the discovery of his body. His uncle, who lives in Seattle and had previously resided in Canada, was the first relative to be informed and later confirmed the identification of the body.
While Toronto Police have stated that no signs of foul play or criminal activity have been detected, the official cause of death remains pending. The autopsy was completed on June 9, with the final report expected within two weeks. In an official email, police declined to provide further details, citing the non-criminal nature of the case.
Vedatman’s family remains in Kerala, waiting for answers. Relatives expressed disbelief that he would have voluntarily approached a water body late at night, especially since he had been in good spirits during a phone conversation with his younger brother hours before his disappearance. “We’ve been told it was drowning, but we still don’t understand how or why,” said a family member.
Having moved to Canada in 2022, Vedatman had never returned home. He was focused on his studies and was not employed part-time. A former student of Chinmaya Vidyalaya in Kochi, he is survived by his parents and younger brother. So far, Malayali associations in Canada and local police have shared limited details with the public, leaving the family in emotional and informational limbo.
