Army man drowns in Chaliyar river in Keralam; body recovered after hours of search

The body of a 32-year-old Army man, who went missing in the Chaliyar river on Sunday, was recovered on Monday morning by a joint search and rescue team near Oorkadavu in Kozhikode district.

The deceased was identified as Sudheesh, a native of Peruvayal. He was a member of the Madras Engineering Group (MEG) of the Indian Army and had been on leave since October 14.

According to officials, the incident occurred around 4 p.m. on Sunday near the Oorkadavu regulator-cum-bridge while Sudheesh was casting a fishing net into the river. He reportedly lost his balance and slipped into the waters.

A multi-agency rescue operation was launched involving personnel from the Fire and Rescue Services stations of Mavoor, Mukkam, Vellimadukunnu, and Perambra, alongside local boat operators. Units of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and specialised scuba diving teams were also pressed into service to navigate the deep waters.

The search operations faced hurdles on Sunday evening as all the shutters of the regulator-cum-bridge were open, creating dangerous currents. Furthermore, heavy downpours in the catchment areas had turned the river water muddy and turbid, limiting underwater visibility for the divers. Owing to the high risks and darkness, the operation was temporarily suspended around 10 p.m. on Sunday.

The search resumed at 8 a.m. on Monday, and the scuba team from the Mavoor fire station retrieved the body shortly thereafter.

Following the completion of inquest procedures, the body was moved to the hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Published - October 26, 2026 12:22 pm IST