National highway collapse at Kollam; Collector calls for emergency meeting

KOLLAM: A meeting will be conducted in the chairmanship of district collector N Devidas IAS on the collapse of the national highway under construction at Kottiyam. National Highway Authority regional officer and project head will participate. Collector will seek explanation from NHAI officials. Apart from this, officials from different government departments will also be participating in the meeting. The expert team of national highway authority will visit the premises to find the root cause of the accident. NHAI asked for report from Shivalaya constructions, the tendered company.

Vehicle passengers, including school students, managed a narrow escape from the accident at Mylakkadu in Kottiyam after a large crater was formed on the road yesterday. Even though the natives accused the unscientific methods used in construction, the national highway authority denied it.

The sticky red clay was filled only to four feet in the upper side of the elevated road. Beneath that was the mud mixed with sand from the Ashtamudi lake. The catastrophe was omitted because the side wall didn’t fall onto the road. The pipeline through the side of the road is also broken.

Minister Riyas sent letter to the center

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister of Public Works of Kerala Muhammad RIyas has sent letter to Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Transport of Road Transport and Highways of India demanding emergency proceedings in the collapse of road between national highway construction at Mylakkad in Kottiyam. Minister Riyas asked the of public works department secretary to submit an emergency report.