Naval Team to Boost Search Efforts for Missing Worker in Kerala Canal

A team from the Indian Navy will join the extensive search and rescue mission to locate a sanitation worker swept away while cleaning the Amayizhanchan canal, district authorities announced on Sunday. The operation, which was paused on Sunday, will resume Monday morning with the naval team using sonar equipment to pinpoint waste and debris inside the canal's tunnel located on Railway premises.

Joy, a 47-year-old temporary cleaning worker employed by a railway contractor, went missing on Saturday while clearing the waste-filled canal in Thiruvananthapuram. He was working with two other workers in the Thampanoor section of the canal near the railway station when heavy rainfall increased water flow, sweeping him into a 200-metre-long tunnel beneath the central railway station's tracks.

Naval Team's Involvement

The Navy team arrived in the state capital on Sunday night and met with district authorities and Railway officials. They decided to examine the tunnel on Monday with assistance from the fire force's scuba team. Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation Mayor Arya Rajendran stated that special observation teams would monitor the canal's entry and exit points throughout the night, keeping an eye on water levels and waste flow.

District Collector Geromic George mentioned that further actions would be taken after the Navy's assessment on Monday morning. Meanwhile, a ministerial delegation, including Local Self Government Department Minister M B Rajesh, Industries Minister P Rajeeve, and Power Minister K Krishnankutty, visited the site late Sunday night to evaluate the situation.

Blame Game Between Authorities

The incident has led to a blame game between municipal and Railway authorities. Railway Assistant Divisional Manager Viji told the media that there were no lapses on their part. He claimed they have limitations in cleaning the canal section under their premises and blamed the city corporation for waste accumulation inside it.

The city corporation countered by releasing multiple documents, including recent notices issued by them and the district collector, directing Railway authorities to clear the tunnel as part of pre-monsoon cleaning. Speaking to the media, Rajesh said that various letters and notices asking for tunnel cleaning have surfaced now, with the latest notice issued in June as a final warning before legal action.

Opposition Criticism

The opposition Congress criticised the ruling CPIM over the incident. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan said that if there was a dispute between Railways and the city corporation, the government should have intervened to resolve it. He added that government apathy is evident from this situation.

Minister V Sivankutty criticised Satheesan's remarks as immature and inhumane. Sivankutty stated that despite a worker going missing on Railway premises, the state government is doing everything possible to rescue him. He also mentioned that Railways never permitted corporation or state government interference in tunnel cleaning matters within their premises.

Rescue Efforts Continue

The daring rescue attempts by NDRF, fire force, police, and city corporation workers in the canal tunnel filled with massive loads of hard waste have so far been unsuccessful. The NDRF and fire force members have been tirelessly working for 36 hours in waist-deep wastewater clearing debris to facilitate scuba divers' search for Joy.

Mayor Arya Rajendran denied Railway's charges and said they were releasing untreated wastewater into the canal instead of using a sewage treatment plant. She questioned whether Railways could prove they had facilities to dispose of generated waste properly. The mayor also mentioned inspecting if there was any deliberate attempt to release solid and faecal waste directly into the canal.

Rajesh emphasised that their priority is searching for Joy. He stated that since the incident occurred within Railway premises where they hold authority, other matters could be discussed later. The canal and tunnel entry are filled with plastic and hard waste, hampering rescue operations due to ongoing rains.

The search operation will continue with renewed efforts from all involved parties as they strive to locate Joy amidst challenging conditions.