| Work Detail |
Four massive girders of the under-construction elevated highway on the second bypass at Alappuzha beach collapsed around 10:50 AM on Monday. While no casualties were reported, the incident caused cracks in two nearby double-storied houses. The girders, installed between the 17th and 18th pillars just a week ago, came crashing down. Three workers were at the site at the time, with two working near the pillar and another standing beneath the structure. The worker underneath managed to escape upon hearing the girders crack, while an excavator was deployed to rescue the other two. Eyewitnesses reported that the girders fell with a loud crash onto a temporary shed where workers were staying. Fortunately, all migrant workers had left for their job sites after breakfast, avoiding a potential disaster. Following the collapse, Congress workers, led by KPCC General Secretary A.A. Shukkoor and municipal opposition leader Rego Raju, protested attempts by the construction company to remove the debris. They demanded assurances regarding public safety before the girders were lifted. Meanwhile, concerns arose over the quality of construction, with locals alleging structural defects as the cause of the collapse. District Collector Alex Varghese and Alappuzha North Police examined the site, while National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) project manager P. Pradeep also conducted an inspection. An expert panel has been tasked with submitting a report within two days. Alappuzha MP K.C. Venugopal has called for a comprehensive probe into the incident, urging the formation of a technical panel to assess the construction quality and safety standards. He has also written to Union Minister for Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, highlighting the urgency of the matter. The construction of the parallel bypass, part of a major highway development project, began in August 2023, with nearly 80% of the work already completed before the mishap. |
