A 31-year-old man tragically lost his life in the early hours of Sunday after the car he was driving veered off the road and plunged into a canal in Thathampally, near the Rajiv Nagar jetty in Kerala’s Alappuzha district.
The deceased, Bijoy Antony, a resident, was returning home with two friends after celebrating his birthday when the accident occurred.
According to Kochuthresiamma Joseph, local ward member, “We understand that they were returning from a birthday celebration. It’s heartbreaking that such a tragedy unfolded on his special day.”
Accident Triggered by Rain and Poor Visibility
Officials from the Alappuzha Fire and Rescue Station received an emergency alert at 1:55 a.m. Initial reports suggest the accident was likely caused by poor visibility and slippery road conditions due to heavy rain. The vehicle reportedly skidded off the road and fell into the canal, coming to rest around 50 feet from the jetty.
Two other passengers in the vehicle — Binoy Thomas from Kuttichira and Jijo Lonan from Kurishinkal — managed to escape safely, thanks to their swimming abilities.
“They tried to rescue Bijoy, but the strong undercurrent made it impossible. He didn’t know how to swim and was swept away,” said Joji N. Joy, Assistant Station Officer, Alappuzha.
Recovery Efforts and Investigation
Rescue personnel launched a search operation and later recovered Bijoy’s body. Despite administering CPR, he could not be revived. Authorities highlighted that rising water levels and strong currents, a result of recent heavy rainfall, contributed to the fatal outcome.
Bijoy had recently returned to India after a stint in the United Kingdom and was employed at a car dealership in Alappuzha. He is survived by his parents, Babychan and Pushpamma, and an elder brother.
His body has been sent to the Government Medical College in Vandanam for post-mortem, following which it will be handed over to the family.
