In a tragic incident early Friday morning, three migrant labourers lost their lives after a century-old, two-storey building collapsed in Kodakara, located in Kerala’s Thrissur district. The victims have been identified as Rahul (19), Rupel (21), and Aleem (30), all originally from Uttar Pradesh. The building, situated near a local panchayat office, reportedly caved in around 6 a.m., just as the workers were preparing to leave for their daily jobs. Heavy rains over the past few days are suspected to have compromised the building’s structural integrity, leading to the collapse.
According to officials, the building was constructed using laterite stones and had housed 17 migrant workers. Of those, 14 managed to escape without injuries, while the remaining three were trapped under the debris. Rahul was pulled out alive but later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The bodies of Rupel and Aleem were recovered from beneath the rubble after an hours-long rescue operation involving local residents, police, and fire and rescue personnel.
The incident has once again brought attention to the unsafe living conditions faced by migrant workers in various parts of the country. The collapsed structure, reportedly in a dilapidated condition for years, was still being used as a residential space. Local authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident, and there are growing calls for stricter enforcement of building safety regulations, especially in areas housing vulnerable labour populations.
