Disrespect to mortal remains of rescuer Rajesh: Payyannur Tehsildar suspended

Kannur (Kerala): Action has been taken regarding the disrespect shown to the mortal remains of rappelling instructor R Rajesh, who died during a rescue operation at Cherupuzha in Kannur. Revenue Minister A P Anil Kumar instructed the Land Revenue Commissioner to suspend Payyannur Tehsildar Paul K P. The Minister’s action follows a report submitted by the Kannur District Collector regarding the incident.

The body was transported from Pariyaram Medical College to Thiruvananthapuram without being embalmed and without adequate freezer facilities. Ambulance drivers Muhammad Niyas and Muhammad Tanveer exposed the negligence.

As the victim died due to drowning, the body was in a bloated state. Under such circumstances, it is essential either to embalm the body or to use a freezer unit. However, the body was transported without taking any of these precautions.

The failure in the ambulance arrangements was noticed when the vehicle reached Chavakkad in Thrissur. Fearing that the mortal remains might decompose after being brought in an ambulance without freezer facilities, the drivers transferred the body to another ambulance at Chavakkad. With the assistance of other ambulance drivers in front of Hayat Hospital in Chavakkad, the body was shifted to a vehicle equipped with a freezer unit and taken onwards to Thiruvananthapuram. CCTV footage showing the body being transferred en route also surfaced.

R Rajesh (36), a resident of Kalliyoor in Thiruvananthapuram, died during a rescue operation at Meenthulli Thuruthu in Cherupuzha. Rajesh was swept away by currents while rescuing a person stranded at Meenthulli Thuruthu. The incident occurred on the evening of Saturday, August 1.

Although Rajesh was wearing safety gear, including a life jacket and ropes, he removed his own life jacket and handed it to the person being rescued from the islet. Subsequently, while crossing the river holding onto a rope, he lost his grip and was carried away by the current. Following a search, his body was recovered on August 4.