Expert committee to investigate national highway collapse; further action after receiving report

MALAPPURAM: The National Highways Authority of India has appointed a three-member expert committee to investigate the collapse of the six-lane national highway in Kooriyad, which was in the final stages of construction, yesterday. The team will visit the site today and submit a preliminary report. The team will examine the cause of the collapse, whether there was any negligence or unscientific construction, and the construction method that should be continued. The State Public Works Secretary will also visit the site. Collector V.R. Vinod said that further action will be taken after receiving the report.

National Highways Authority Project Director Anshul Sharma said that the initial conclusion is that the accident was caused by the expansion of a nearby field under the pressure of the road foundation during heavy rains, which caused the crack and led to the landslide. He clarified that the allegation that unscientific construction in the field area is what led to the collapse is not true and that the road was built after an expert inspection.

The district collector called a meeting of the National Highways Authority, the construction company and public representatives to assess the situation. UDF convener Adoor Prakash and P.K. Kunhalikutty, who visited the damaged road, accused it of unscientific construction. They also said that what is needed there is a flyover.

Crack in Thalappara too

A crack of about 50 meters appeared in the middle of the road in Thalappara, four kilometers from Kooriyad, yesterday. This is an area raised with earth. There are paddy fields on both sides.

Travel route

Those going from Kozhikode to Thrissur should take Chemmad-Thirurangadi route from Thalappara. Those coming from Thrissur to Kozhikode should take Tirurangadi-Mamburam route from Kakkad.