Search continues for missing sanitation worker in Amayizhanjan canal, 30-member team for rescue operations

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The search for the sanitation worker Joy, who went missing while cleaning the Amayizhanjan canal in the capital city, has resumed. The rescue operation on the second day started early Sunday morning. A 30-member team including divers is conducting the rescue operation under the leadership of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force). Along with this, the operation using the robot will also continue. The NDRF team said that mud and garbage have accumulated in the canal.

The authorities have ended the rescue operations through the manhole at the Central Railway Station. This is because the operations of the railways will be affected. The railways had informed that there should not be any kind of activity including on platform number 3 as many train services arrive at 3 am.

N Joy, (45), son of Nesamani and Mary of Marayamuttam went missing Saturday morning at 11.30am while trying to remove garbage from the Amayizhanjan canal that passes underneath the Thampanoor Central Railway Station. Joy was brought by the railway contractor. The accumulated waste and rains hampered the rescue operations.
The canal flows through the railway compound near the railway parcel office opposite the Thampanoor Indian Coffee House. They reached here after cleaning the part of the canal near the Power House Road around 8 am. Supervisor Kumar after seeing the water flowing strongly while lifting the plastic waste in sacks asked him to return to the shore.

Meanwhile, due to the force of the flow, Joy tripped and fell into the tunnel. Kumar threw the rope but Joy could not catch it. Joy was the only one in the canal when the incident happened. Tapandas and Bishwajit Mandal, the migrant workers who were with him, were returning after having food.

A scuba team led by fire force assistant station officer K B Subhash arrived and worked tirelessly throughout the day, but the garbage piled up to a meter high in the water proved a challenge. In the first hour, the scuba team members put on oxygen cylinders and entered the tunnel about 7 meters deep. It was impossible to get inside because of the piles of plastic bottles and garbage thrown in covers. In the afternoon, the iron grill placed next to the canal was moved. Under the leadership of the municipal corporation, JCB was brought and the garbage was removed. However, the waste accumulated inside could not be removed significantly. Minister V Sivankutty, Mayor Arya Rajendran, District Collector Geromic George, Deputy Mayor P K Raju and others reached the spot. Police, municipal sanitation workers, RPF and others all participated in the rescue operations.