📷 Image Credits: The Hindu
The search and rescue operation for a missing sanitation worker in the Amayizhanjan canal near Thiruvananthapuram’s Central Railway station have been ongoing for more than 24 hours. The worker, identified as Joy, was last seen while cleaning the canal tunnel on Saturday. The operation involves a joint effort by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team along with Fire and Rescue Services personnel. Despite intensive search efforts, the challenges posed by the large amounts of waste accumulated in the canal have hindered progress.
The search operation was briefly called off late Sunday evening due to low light conditions and the accumulation of garbage in the canal. Officials are planning to resume the search on Monday to locate Joy. State fire and rescue personnel, scuba diving teams, police, and city corporation workers have been actively involved in the operation. The tunnel where Joy went missing is known to have side channels, further complicating the search efforts.
Robotic machines developed by the startup team Bandicoot have been deployed to assist in clearing out the waste from the canal. The robots, typically used in cleaning drains, are proving to be instrumental in removing the plastic and hard waste obstructing the tunnel. The rescue teams are facing considerable difficulties due to the absence of visibility inside the tunnel, which has been filled with various types of waste.
In response to the incident, Thiruvananthapuram’s additional divisional railway manager has dismissed allegations of the railways denying permission for the canal cleaning near their premises. Mayor Arya Rajendran emphasized the railway’s responsibility in maintaining the cleanliness around the station. The labor minister has prioritized finding Joy, ensuring that all necessary resources are allocated for the operation. A special team of medical experts has been deployed to offer medical aid to the rescue workers, given the challenging conditions at the site.
As the search operation continues, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) has served a notice to the authorities, calling for a report on the incident within seven days. The community remains hopeful for Joy’s safe return, as his family, particularly his ailing mother, anxiously awaits updates on the ongoing rescue efforts.
