Painting worker meets with tragic end after concrete wall collapses onto trailer lorry during heavy rain

PATHANAPURAM: A painting worker met with a tragic end after a massive concrete compound wall collapsed onto a trailer lorry during heavy rain and strong winds near Punalur on Tuesday evening. The deceased was identified as Siju Thomas (42), son of Thomas and Jolly of Vanmala.

The incident occurred around 4 pm at a service station near the Nellipally petrol pump in Punalur. A huge concrete wall, nearly 50 metres long, collapsed onto a trailer lorry parked at the service centre.

Siju, who had been painting a school bus at the service station, reportedly entered the cabin of the trailer lorry after the rain intensified. Two others who were with him were diverting rainwater when the wall from a nearby private property suddenly collapsed onto the vehicle.

Police, Fire and Rescue Services personnel, and locals carried out rescue operations for several hours. The concrete structure was finally removed using a JCB machine, and Siju was pulled out from the wreckage. However, he had died by then. Siju is survived by his wife Reena and two children.