Cracks continue in NH 66 in Thrissur, Kasaragod; Protest intensifies

THRISSUR: Amidst strong allegations of unscientific construction, National Highway 66 collapsed at several places on Wednesday due to heavy rain in Thrissur, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts. This has raised concerns among the locals.

There were protests in many places on Wednesday. Kerala Kaumudi had highlighted the unscientific nature of the national highway construction in the last day's main news.

The service road between Mavungal and Chemmattamvayal in Kanhangad, Kasaragod, collapsed. A large crack of about 20 meters was formed on the national highway in this section. In Thrissur, a crack of about 50 meters was formed on the upper bridge of the underpass near the Manathala Sree Vishwanath Temple in Chavakkad.

A crack occurred in the soil nailing area near the national highway in Koyilandy, Kozhikode. The national highway in this region was built by levelling the hilly slopes.

Vehicles were diverted after the Kanhangad service road collapsed. The drainage work here was not completed. The road was washed away by the water that had entered during the rain.

A deep crack appeared on the bridge at Manathala in Chavakkad where tarring had been completed. The authorities tried to seal the crack by re-tarring but to no avail.

The locals blocked the national highway after the soil and mud that had collapsed on the national highway at Taliparamba Kuppam flowed into nearby houses, destroying property and belongings.

The preliminary assessment of the expert team appointed by the National Highway Authority said that the soil at the base of the road was to be blamed for the collapse of the national highway in Malappuram's Kooriyad the other day.

There is nothing unscientific about building a retaining wall with cement blocks. A report will be submitted to the authority after examining the design of the road in detail.