A mini truck crashed into an abandoned quarry and submerged in water at Athavanad in Malappuram on Friday, killing the cleaner who was trapped inside the vehicle, the police said.
The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, carrying curry powder, before falling into a deep, water-filled pit formed by stone extraction, the police said.
The driver, Jaffer, managed to escape and was rescued, officials added.
However, the cleaner, Musthafa, was trapped inside the fully submerged vehicle.
Fire and Rescue Services personnel later arrived at the scene and began lifting the vehicle with a heavy crane. Scuba divers were also deployed during the rescue operation.
After hours of effort, the truck was finally lifted from the water, and Musthafa’s body was recovered by 7.30 p.m., the police said.
The Motor Vehicles department would examine the vehicle on Saturday to ascertain the cause of the accident, officials said.
Published – February 20, 2026 09:59 pm IST
