Kozhikode: Six youngsters from Maruthomkara near Kuttiady, are feared to have drowned in the aftermath of a landslide in Pasukkadav forest. Rescue operations late in the night under the supervision of excise minister T.P. Ramakrishnan recovered one body.
Meanwhile, three other youngsters, who were part of the group, managed to escape. They were brought to Taluk hospital, Kuttiady. The missing persons are Rajeesh, 24, son of Ramakrishnan, Parakkal, Ashwin, 20, son of Chand-ran Kattodi, Akshayraj, 18, son of Rajeevan, Parayulla Parambath, Shine, 18, son of Sasi, Kakkuzhiyulla Kunnummal, Vipin Das, 20, son of Devadasan, Kutt-ikkunnummal and Vishnu, 19, son of Rajan, Kutti-kkunnummal. The rescued people were standing on the other side of Kadanthara river, when the water level rose. They are Vineesh, son of Vinodan, Kuttikkunnu-mmal, Amal, son of Balan, Parayulla Parambath and Jishnu, son of Rajan, Parayulla Parambath.
Jishnu had not entered the water and stayed ashore. When the water level rose, he informed the locals. Since an increase in the water level was common in the area, locals were not venturing into the river. However, these youngsters, who lived 20 km from the spot, were not aware of the situation.
National Disaster Response Force from Thrissur is part of the rescue operations. All of them are aged between 20 to 25 years. Since the incident took place late in the evening, the absence of light was another impediment to the rescue operation for fire force and police.
The gang of nine, including students and autorickshaw drivers, hailing from Kothode, Thottilpalam, had gone to Poozhithode mini Hydel power station. A landslide in Pasukkadav forest near Kuttiady caused the water level to increase.
