'Scary and difficult'; Scuba divers about Amayizhanjan canal rescue mission

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day has passed since Joy, a labourer went missing in the Amayizhanjan canal near Thampanoor. Despite employing scuba drivers on the mission, the debris of garbage and the rock beneath the canal is turning into a hindrance.

“We tried to go deep inside the hole in search. However, if the water recedes, the thick waste will come down and we will be trapped inside. We searched but it was difficult to move the garbage using our hands. Beneath the canal are hard rocks and debris of wastes. We moved past 40 m and searched, but nothing could be found. We will discuss with senior officials and decide what to do next.” Said a deep diving expert.

Neshamani and Mary's son N.Joy (45) went missing yesterday at 11:30 am while trying to remove garbage from the Amayizhanjan canal that flows under the Thampanoor Central Railway Station. Three contract labourers of railway, entered the canal to clean but were caught in the sudden surge in water level due to the surprise rains that hit the capital.

This stream flows through the railway compound near the Railway Parcel Office opposite the Thampanoor Indian Coffee House. These three workers completed work near the powerhouse road at 8 am and then reached the railway station premises for their second duty of the day. Supervisor Kumar, who saw the rising water level asked Joy to get back from the canal. The strong currents made Joy fall into a tunnel. The supervisor threw a rope to assist, but Joy couldn’t firm his grip, resulting in him going inside the darkness of the tunnel.

Tapandas and Bishwajit Mandal, the migrant workers were returning after breakfast when the incident took place.