Seven Agonising Hours: Locals Rushed in First to Rescue Cleaner Trapped in Lorry

Kuttippuram: The state watched in anxious anticipation for nearly seven hours after a lorry lost control and plunged into a water-filled quarry at Uroth Palliyal in Athavanad in Friday. Despite relentless rescue efforts by local residents, police, and fire and rescue personnel, the operation ended in tragedy.

Body of Mustafa, a native of Paithiniparamba and a helper in the lorry, was finally pulled out at around 8 pm, raising a brief flicker of hope among those gathered at the site. However, the hope was short-lived. He was later declared dead at the hospital, leaving the everyone in shock.

The accident occurred around 1 pm on the downhill stretch of the Athavanad–Chempikal road. The lorry, owned by Malayil Food Products, reportedly suffered brake failure while descending the slope.

According to initial reports, the road at the bottom of the hill forks to the right and left, with an open field straight ahead. The driver steered the vehicle into the field in an attempt to slow it down and then tried to crash it into a sand dune on the left to bring it to a halt. Unaware that a deep quarry lay hidden beyond the dune, the vehicle ploughed through it and the lorry plunged directly into the quarry.

The driver, Jafar, managed to jump into the water and was later rescued. Mustafa, however, was trapped inside the cabin as the vehicle sank.

Locals First on the Scene

At the time of the accident, a group of people about 50 metres away were preparing for 'Kalavaravu' as part of the Vairangode festival. Hearing a loud crash, they rushed to the spot and saw the lorry sinking into the quarry.

They first rescued Jafar, who was found near the edge of the water. Based on his information that another person was trapped inside, locals immediately alerted the police and fire force. By then, the lorry had completely submerged.

Residents attempted to dismantle the cabin while it was underwater, but the effort proved unsuccessful. The rescue was further complicated as diesel and food products from the lorry mixed with the water, creating hazardous conditions.

After hours of strenuous effort, a crane was brought in to lift the submerged vehicle. Mustafa was finally retrieved at around 8 pm, and the lorry was fully brought ashore by 9 pm.

Meanwhile, the lorry driver Jafar was admitted to a private hospital in Valanchery for further treatments. He reportedly sustained serious spinal injuries from the accident.

The quarry is said to be extremely deep. “Bubbles were rising from the lower part of the lorry,” said Girish, a local resident from Parekkalam who was among the first to assist in the rescue.

The rescue operation was led by the Tirur Fire and Rescue Team under District Fire Officer T. Anoop. Station Officers Fayed and Rajendranath, along with diving experts Jabir, Shibin, and Abhilash, played key roles in the operation.

Valanchery Inspector Vinod, Fire Officers Prabeeth, Balagopal, Sujith, Safir and Rajesh, along with Home Guards Gopi and Suresh, were also part of the rescue team.

What began as a desperate race against time ended in heartbreak, leaving a community mourning a life lost in a tragic accident.