Man dies on way to hospital

KOCHI

: Inclement weather and the delay in providing medical care resulted in the death of a man on Monday.

Tomy

(53), a resident of Vellaramkuthu tribal colony in

Kuttampuzha

panchayat died after he developed chest pain.

Though Tomy was brought to

Kothamangalam taluk

hospital early on Monday, doctors declared that he was dead on arrival. Police said that Tomy died of a heart attack.

"Tomy developed chest pain by 3am. The Manikandanchal - Pooyamkutty bridge was submerged due to heavy rain and yet residents risked their lives to transport him in a country boat across the river. Later in the day, they took his body home, disregarding the heavy undercurrents," said Kuttampuzha SI Sreekumar.

Pooyamkutty River has been overflowing for the last one week.

"Tribesmen, especially, those living in Uriyampetty village and nearby areas come to mainland occasionally. They purchase groceries from shops functioning in the colonies itself. We have been in contact with panchayat officials who confirmed that there is no deficiency of edible items for residents. They don't have any problem and ward members would intimate us in case of emergencies. We are in constant contact with people's representatives there," said an official with Kuttampuzha panchayat.