Railway Negligence Under Fire as Worker Swept Away in Canal

Rajya Sabha MP and CPI(M) leader A A Rahim has urged action against railway officials after a sanitation worker, Joy, was swept away while cleaning a canal in Thiruvananthapuram. The incident has raised concerns about the safety protocols for workers. A search operation is ongoing.

Rajya Sabha MP and CPI(M) leader A A Rahim on Sunday called on Union Railway Minister Aswini Vaishnaw to take swift action against railway department officials after a sanitation worker was tragically swept away in a sudden surge of rainwater while cleaning a canal in Thiruvananthapuram.

The worker, identified as Joy, 47, was a temporary contract employee of the Railways. He was swept away on Saturday morning while cleaning the Amayizhanchan Canal. At the time, he was working within a 200-metre-long tunnel under the tracks between the platforms at Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station.

Efforts to locate Joy have continued into Sunday, involving a large-scale search-and-rescue operation. In his letter, Rahim criticized the Railways for failing to ensure adequate safety measures for workers operating in hazardous conditions. He stated that Joy's life was put at risk due to the railway authorities' negligence.

Rahim highlighted that despite the Trivandrum Municipal Corporation raising concerns about the canal, no significant action had been taken by the Railways. Furthermore, he noted that no senior railway officials had visited the site of the incident, even as local representatives, residents, and rescue teams worked tirelessly to locate the missing worker.

Rahim also pointed out a lack of necessary cooperation from railway officials during the rescue operation. He warned that the continuation of train services at the incident site would impede search efforts. Despite directly informing officials, no positive action had been taken, Rahim alleged.

The CPI(M) leader called for an impartial inquiry into the incident and scrutiny of the Railways' shortcomings. Joy and two other workers were cleaning the Thampanoor section of the canal near the railway station when a heavy rainfall caused an increased water flow, sweeping Joy away into the tunnel.

The extensive search for Joy has resumed this morning involving state machinery, including fire force personnel, a scuba-diving team, police, civic workers, and NDRF personnel. The operation faces challenges due to the canal being filled with plastic and hard waste, exacerbated by ongoing rain.

The temporary workers, including Joy, were hired by a contractor responsible for cleaning the section of the canal within the Railways' jurisdiction.

(With inputs from agencies.)