Three Workers Die After Being Trapped While Cleaning Drain in Kattappana

THODUPUZHA: Three individuals tragically died after being trapped in a drain in Kattappana, Idukki. The deceased have been identified as Jayaraman, a native of Cumbum, Tamil Nadu, and Sundarapandiyan and Michael, both natives of Gudalur. The incident occurred on Tuesday night around 10:30 PM, stemming from an attempt to clean the drain.

The accident unfolded near the Orange Hotel, situated close to Parakkadavu in Kattappana. One worker initially descended into a manhole to clean the drain. After a short period, when the first worker could not be seen, two other workers entered the manhole to search for him. Subsequently, all three became trapped in the drain. Rescue efforts, involving the fire force, police, and local residents, lasted for over an hour before each person could be retrieved.

Following their extraction, two of the workers were transported to a private hospital in Kattappana, while the third was taken to the taluk hospital. All three succumbed to their injuries a short while later. Preliminary investigations suggest that the workers descended into the drain without any safety precautions, including the absence of oxygen cylinders or other essential safety equipment. It is believed that they inhaled toxic gas due to lack of oxygen, which led to their deaths. The bodies of all three victims have been moved to the Kattappana Taluk Hospital.