Scuba divers of the fire and rescue services react after locating Joy’s body at Thakaraparambu in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forty-six hours after cleaning worker N Joy, 47, went missing in the Amayizhanjan
canal
at Thampanoor in
Thiruvananthapuram
, his body was found in a canal at Thakaraparambu, 900 metres away from the railway station tunnel.
Hours of intense search operations went in vain as the decomposed body was found by local residents who informed the city corporation authorities.
The body was found in the garbage-filled canal behind Sri Chitra Home around 8.45am. Scuba team from Kerala Fire and Rescue Services retrieved the body and shifted it to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital morgue. Relatives identified the body, and a postmortem examination was done before handing it over to them for funeral at Joy’s home at Marayamuttom near Neyyattinkara.
Although a special team from the Indian Navy had begun
rescue operations
on Monday morning, they received the information soon that the body was found floating in the canal. Corporation mayor Arya Rajendran said that overnight rain might have increased the water flow in the canal which pushed the body downstream. Various teams were instructed to check the canal’s outflow, resulting in the body’s recovery. Mayor Rajendran also broke down at the hospital and expressed her helplessness in saving Joy’s life.
“We have tried our best to save his life. But unfortunately, we could not. I had hope,” she said.
LSG minister M B Rajesh, CPM state secretary M V Govindan, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam, Parassala MLA C K Hareendran along with standing committee chairpersons and councillors paid their last respects to Joy at the hospital.
Joy was reported missing around 11am on Saturday when he, together with three co-workers, entered the canal near the railway tunnel to remove garbage. Heavy rain led to increased water flow in the canal, carrying him into the tunnel.
