Man killed after falling into open drain in Alappuzha

Kottayam: A man was killed after falling into an uncovered drain filled with polluted water during heavy rain in Alappuzha on Friday night. The deceased is Mahesh alias Boban, 45, son of the late Thankachan, from Chathanad Municipal Colony, Alappuzha. The incident took place just 200m from his house. Boban, a carpenter, left home at 9pm on Friday while it was raining. The initial assumption is that he slipped and fell into the drain, which was overgrown with weeds, along Chathanad Municipal Colony-Kavitha ITI Road. The drain was uncovered and lacked railings.Even nearby residents failed to notice his situation. Visitors to a nearby homestay saw someone lying in the drain around 1.50am. They soon informed police and fire force. Firefighters from Alappuzha arrived at the scene and fished out the body. Police registered a case for unnatural death and began a probe.Only on Saturday morning did his family and locals learn of his death. He is survived by his wife Priya, mother Shyamala and brother Paul. tnn