Three migrant labourers died in an accident at a poultry waste treatment plant at Urangattiri, near Areekode, in Malappuram district of Kerala on Wednesday (July 30, 2025). The victims were identified as Hitesh Saranya, 46, Vikas Kumar, 29, and Samad Ali, 20. Hitesh and Vikas were from Bihar and Samad was from Assam.
The exact cause of the accident remains unclear. But it is believed to have occurred while the men were cleaning a chemical treatment tank. The trio were found unconscious and trapped inside the tank around 10:30 a.m.
Though they were rushed to a hospital, their lives could not be saved. Their bodies are kept at Government Medical College Hospital, Manjeri.
Unpleasant odour
Local residents expressed concerns that they had little knowledge about the operations of the privately-owned waste treatment plant. While they were not always aware of the specifics of the waste being treated, they said the plant would sometimes release a strong unpleasant odour into the surrounding areas.
