CHALAKUDY: The body of a bus conductor, who went missing after his scooter went out of control and plunged into water amid heavy rainfall, has been recovered. Ramesh (42), son of Ramu from Puliyilappara, Athirappilly Panchayat, fell into the Chalakudy River from the Pariyaram check dam. His body was later discovered near Vettukadavu Bridge, approximately two kilometres downstream from where the accident occurred.

The accident occurred on Saturday around 9:30 PM. Ramesh was the conductor of a private bus operating on the Adichili-Irinjalakuda route. After finishing his last trip, he parked the bus at Adichili and was returning to his home in Pariyaram on a scooter.

A local fisherman spotted the incident and informed the police. Fire and rescue teams arrived that night but were unable to carry out a rescue. Search operations resumed on Sunday morning, and around noon, locals saw the body drifting near Vettukadavu Bridge. The body was shifted to Chalakudy Taluk Hospital for post-mortem.

Ramesh’s family had recently moved to Pariyaram; his wife Ashitha is the Chairperson of the Athirappilly Panchayat Welfare Committee. His funeral will be held today at 12 PM at Kannankuzhi Crematorium, with a public viewing at Chalakudy Municipal Bus Stand in the morning.

He is survived by his children: Akshara and Avani.