Barge worker slips and drowns in choppy river

BUTTERWORTH: The river was choppy and it was raining heavily when a 42-year-old barge worker fell into Sungai Prai and drowned.

S. Ravichanthar and S. Ganasan, 26, were working on the barge behind a sugar mill when they slipped and fell into the river at about 10.30pm on Saturday.

Passer-by N. Dorairaju, 41, saw what happened and quickly threw them a rope but it only reached Ganasan while Ravichantar was swept away by the strong waves.

The Fire and Rescue Department was alerted and 14 firemen, including a marine unit, were deployed to search for Ravichantar.

Department spokesman Azman Hussin said the body was recovered at 12.09am.

“The barge was docked near the Sungai Prai estuary and the river was very choppy due to upstream water flowing from areas experiencing heavy rain,” he said in a statement yesterday.

“It was also raining heavily when the incident happened.

“Ravichantar was seen trying to reach for the rope before he was swept away.”

OCPD Asst Comm Nik Ros Azhan said Ravichantar was a contract worker with the sugar mill.

“His body has been sent to the Seberang Jaya Hospital for a post mortem,” he said.