Elderly man dies falling into pit left open by KSEB

Pothanikkad (Muvattupuzha): A 94-year-old man met with a tragic end after he fell accidentally into a pit dug to install an electric post. Mathew Korah, of Punchirakkuzhy in Pulinthanam, lost his life in a pit on the side of the Kakkadassery-Kaliyar Road near Government UP School, Pulinthanam.

The incident took place on Thursday morning when Mathew was returning home from a teashop. He fell headlong into the pit, which had a depth of over four feet and a breadth of two feet. A passing scooter rider noticed Mathew’s feet above the pit and alerted the nearby residents. Local people soon rushed to the spot and took Mathew out of the ditch, but he was already dead. 

There are several such open pits along this road, posing a danger to pedestrians and motorists. The pits were dug two weeks ago as part of the work to replace the 11 KV power cables. However, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has neither installed the electric posts in the pits nor displayed warning signs. According to the police, the KSEB officials told them that all the electric posts would be erected together.

Meanwhile, Mathew’s body was shifted to the mortuary of Muvattupuzha General Hospital and later the funeral took place at Pulinthanam St. John’s Besfage Jacobite Syrian Church. Mathew is survived by his wife Mariyamma and children Varghese and Leela.

Two other children Johny and Saji had predeceased Mathew. The spouses of his children are Marady Kunnappillil Chinnamma, Mavudy Vandanathu Sarakutty, Kunnikkal Parakkatt Chacko and Oonnukal Oduvilelil Rani.