Tragic Canal Cleaning Incident in Thiruvananthapuram

A temporary sanitation worker named Joy was swept away while cleaning the Amayizhanchan canal in Thiruvananthapuram. Rescue efforts, hampered by heavy rains and plastic waste, continue as authorities employ various resources, including a robot and scuba divers, to locate him. Blame shifts towards the Railways for not maintaining the canal.

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 13 (PT) – A temporary sanitation worker was swept away on Saturday morning while cleaning the Amayizhanchan canal in the state capital, according to police.

Known only as Joy, the worker was engaged with two others in cleaning the Thampanoor part of the canal when heavy rainfall increased the water flow. Joy couldn’t escape in time, one co-worker disclosed.

Rescue efforts have been ongoing for 12 hours, yet Marayamuttom resident Joy remains untraced. Authorities, including fire department officials, police, and city corporation workers, continue their search operation under challenging conditions.

The accumulation of plastic and hard waste in the canal, exacerbated by the rain, is obstructing rescue operations. Temporary workers, including Joy, were employed by a contractor under a Railways contract to clean the section of the canal within its territory.

Joy was swept away under a 200-metre-long canal tunnel beneath the railway tracks. Earlier, authorities cleared waste from the tunnel entrance to facilitate scuba divers, who couldn’t advance beyond 40 meters. Current rescue efforts focus on a manhole inside the Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station, situated between two platforms.

Corporation authorities have called for using the Bandicoot robot, deployed statewide for drainage cleaning. Minister V. Sivankutty and Mayor Arya Rajendran visited the accident site. The mayor confirmed that reminders were sent to the Railways about canal clearance.

Minister Sivankutty stated both the corporation and the government were ready to clean the tunnel, but the Railways refused, insisting on their responsibility. The mayor emphasized the necessity of carrying out the rescue operation, despite the canal not being within their jurisdiction.