Thiruvananthapuram: The body of Joy (47), a native of Marayamuttom, was recovered on Monday almost two days after he went missing while clearing the waste under the Amayizhanchan canal here. The body was found by two health and sanitation workers under Uppilamoodu iron bridge at Pazhavangadi area which is almost one kilometre away from the canal. His relatives and colleagues identified the body, confirmed Thiruvananthapuram corporation mayor Arya Rajendran.
The body has been shifted to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital. Post-mortem procedures have started following the identification of the body. Sanitation workers found the man's mortal remains in the canal stuck near a pipe around 9 am on Monday. It is learnt that the body surfaced after the authorities pumped water into the canal to flush out the thick waste.
"The municipality had deployed contingent staff beside all streams and water bodies which were connected to the canal. Two staff spotted the body which was found faced down on Monday morning. We can offer the official confirmation only after Joy's relatives identify the body," Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Arya Rajendran said.
Revenue Minister K Rajan said that the search and rescue operation will be suspended only after an official confirmation.
A team of the Indian Navy had joined the massive search and rescue operation to find the sanitation worker who was swept away while cleaning garbage in the canal at Thampanoor Central Railway Station premises. The team, which reached the state capital on Sunday night, held discussions with the district and the Railway authorities and decided to examine the canal tunnel with the assistance of the fire force scuba team.
The daring rescue attempt was led by the NDRF, the fire force, police and the city corporation workers, for the past three days, in the 140-meter-long canal tunnel, filled with massive loads of hard waste.
Meanwhile, the state government, municipal, and Railway authorities indulged in a blame game over who is responsible for removing the solid waste that has accumulated in the Amayazhinchan canal, which passes through the railway property.
In response to the incident, the state Human Rights Commission on Sunday took suo motu cognizance and issued notices to the district collector and municipal corporation secretary, directing them to provide an explanation and submit a detailed report within a week.
Joy and two other workers were engaged in cleaning the Thampanoor part of the canal near the railway station when the water flow increased due to heavy rainfall, sweeping him into the tunnel below the tracks of the platform at the central railway station. Although the other workers standing on the banks threw a rope for him, Joy was unable to grasp it. The cleaning work was reportedly being carried out without any safety precautions.
