Loud explosion on Alappuzha bypass; locals in panic 

ALAPPUZHA: The Alappuzha bypass, which is under construction, witnessed a loud explosion on Wednesday. The explosion occurred in a girder under construction near the West Village office on Wednesday evening during a strength test. The explosion near pillar number 68 caused panic among the locals as concrete chunks fell on the nearby village office premises and some houses in the area.

Later, concrete debris was removed from the blast area and the girder was covered. The strength test called 'stressing' was done on the girders after 20 days of construction. The explosion took place while the test was going on. According to experts, the explosion might have occurred because the concrete was not sufficiently strong.

The new bypass has a total of 350 girders. Girder installation is a time-consuming step as it is a difficult job. The construction of pillars is progressing in various parts. The reason for the delay in the construction here is the delay in getting permission from the Railways to carry out the construction over the railway line.