Retired fire officer appeals for better treatment and safety measures after suffering long-term health issues from manhole rescue

KOTTAYAM: “Blisters on hands and feet. Severe itching. Suffering for 10 years. This fate should not befall those who drowned themselves in the cesspool of Amayizhanjan canal for Joy. Expert treatment should be given,” pleads retired fire officer Shajikumar, who rescued two workers trapped in a manhole in Kochi on April 13, 2014.

After the rescue operation, Shaji fell unconscious and received only basic first aid and a body wash. Now, sitting at his house in Sreenarayanapuram Thottupuram, Vaikom, he recounts that day when two people drowned while cleaning a manhole near the Ernakulam General Hospital. Shaji, then a leading fireman at Kadavanthra station, received a call for help when the first fire force team couldn't rescue them. Despite the manhole being filled with human excrement, Shajikumar bravely descended and brought both men ashore, only for them to die later in the hospital.

Less than two weeks later, Shaji's legs and arms were covered in severe itching and blisters. Despite trying numerous medicines and ointments, the condition persisted, making it difficult to eat and requiring ongoing treatment. Shajikumar, who recently retired from the Vaikom Fire Office, has won the President's Medal for meritorious service.

Shaji's proposals for future rescues

1. Providing rescue workers with protective clothing to prevent dirt from entering the body.

2. Immediate access to treatment from skin specialists after rescue operations.

3. A mechanism for free follow-up examinations and treatment.

During a recent operation by a 43-member scuba team searching the Amayizhanjan canal, several members developed fevers, and one experienced itchy eyes. All members underwent blood tests, received doxycycline pills for rabies, and tetanus shots during the search. Post-operation, the fire force conducted ENT and skin tests, providing Rs 3000 each for medical expenses.

Shajikumar's appeal highlights the need for improved safety measures and medical support for rescue workers to prevent long-term health issues from such hazardous operations.