One killed as concrete structure collapses on tipper truck in Punalur

Thiruvananthapuram: A 42-year-old man was killed after a massive concrete structure collapsed onto a parked tipper truck at Nellipally in Punalur, Kollam, following heavy rains on Tuesday evening.The deceased was Siju Thomas, a native of Valliyath Puthenveedu at Vanmala. According to police and locals, the incident occurred around 5pm near a service centre located behind a petrol pump at Nellipally. A huge concrete retaining wall, estimated to be around 20ft high, collapsed onto a nearby building where the service centre was functioning. The impact caused the concrete roof of the structure to cave in onto the tipper truck parked below. Siju, who was engaged in painting work at the service centre, was trapped inside the mangled cabin of the vehicle. Residents said three people were present at the site at the time of the accident. Two of them reportedly stepped out to clear waterlogging nearby, while Siju remained inside the cabin checking his mobile phone. After hours-long operation, personnel from Punalur police and fire and rescue services recovered the body around 8.30pm. The body was later shifted to Punalur taluk hospital. A school bus and several two-wheelers brought to the service centre for repairs were also damaged in the incident.