Three women workers were killed and five were injured when a tree fell on them on a cardamom estate near Kunjithanny on Friday afternoon.
The dead were identified as Pushpa, Pandiamma, and Mercy, all workers of a private estate at Bison Valley. One person who suffered serious injuries was admitted to the Taluk Hospital, Adimaly.
The workers were clearing dry leaves of cardamom plants when the decayed tree fell killing them on the spot.
Two of the injured were admitted to the Taluk Hospital and three at a private hospital at Adimaly.
Many cardamom estates had been remaining shut in view of chances of accidents during monsoon.
Uprooting of trees and landslips are often reported from cardamom estates during the monsoon season. Falling trees pose a danger to women workers deployed to clear weeds, clean cardamom plants, and pluck beans in the plantations.
Men are deployed only for applying pesticides and fertilizers. Most of the women work without any safety measures while working on the field under big trees, under heavy winds and rain.
