Roof of 120-year-old house collapses; three migrant workers from West Bengal die in Kerala

KODAKARA: Three workers from West Bengal died after the roof of a two-storey house where migrant workers were staying collapsed during heavy rains. The deceased were identified as Rahul, Alim and Ruban. The accident took place at around 6 am on Friday.

The 17 workers living in the house were getting ready to go to work when they felt a loud noise and shaking from above. Three of the four people who ran out from the front of the house died. They died under concrete slabs. Those who ran from the back were able to exit safely. The house is 120 years old. The front roof was concreted 40 years ago.

The roof was concreted on a century-old wall made of laterite bricks and soil. This is the part that collapsed. The locals rushed to the spot after hearing the sound of the building collapsing and the screams of the survivors. They informed the police and fire force who carried out the rescue operation. The three were taken out by removing the slabs by demolishing the wall and bringing in a JCB. All three had died by the time they were taken to a private hospital in Kodakara.

The victims of the tragedy were the workers who had rented a house from a labour contractor named Thennadan Babu in Kodakara. The Kodakara police took immediate action. Upon learning of the accident, the Collector, District Rural Police Chief, MLAs and other public representatives, as well as political activists, also reached the spot.

Minister seeks report

Minister V Sivankutty has directed the Labour Commissioner to conduct a detailed investigation into the death of migrant workers in the building collapse and submit a report. The Minister also informed that the Labour Department will take necessary steps to bring the bodies of the workers to their home states.