‘Koolimadu bridge is not like Palarivattom bridge’, says Muhammad Riyas in Assembly

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The collapse of Koolimadu bridge was taken seriously by the government, said Public Works Minister Muhammad Riyas in the assembly. “A malfunction of the hydraulic jack had caused the accident. It was confirmed by the NIT report. An explanation was sought from the engineer and assistant engineer. Koolimadu bridge is not like Palarivattom bridge”, said the minister. However, the opposition alleged that the minister has made a mistake.

Meantime, Riyas said that the works had taken place without officials’ supervision. There was some fault with the jack. No precautionary measures were taken when the beams tilted, he said. The minister also added that inspections will be conducted at construction sites and specific guidelines will be issued for construction works undertaken by the public works department.

The Koolimadu bridge, linking Malappuram-Kozhikode districts, had collapsed on May 16 while under construction. The executive engineer and assistant engineer were not at the construction site during the incident. The contract was signed with Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society.