KATTAPPANA: In a tragic incident, three daily wage workers lost their lives while cleaning a drainage channel in Kattappana near Tamil Nadu's Idukki.
Idukki district is home to a sizeable number of migrant workers, especially from neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
The deceased were all from Tamil Nadu and were identified as Jayaram from Cumbum, Sundarapandian and Michael from Gudalur.
The trio had been engaged in cleaning a drain beside a hotel under renovation when the mishap occurred around 10 p.m. on Tuesday.
According to eyewitnesses, Jayaram entered the drain first but collapsed inside, apparently due to suffocation caused either by toxic gases or lack of oxygen.
In an attempt to rescue him, Sundarapandian and Michael also climbed down, but both were soon trapped.
Within moments, all three were immobilised inside the pit.