TIRURANGADI: A six-lane national highway under construction in the Kooriyad section of Malappuram collapsed onto a service road, destroying four cars. Eight people, including children, in two of the cars were injured. About half a kilometre of road between Kooriyad and Kolappuram on the Kozhikode-Thrissur national highway collapsed. The accident occurred at around 2:30 pm today. A major disaster was averted as there were few vehicles on the service road at that time.

The service road cracked open. A section of the service road, which was built by filling in a field, collapsed first. After that, the side wall of the national highway, including the road, collapsed onto the service road. The cars were crushed by the falling soil and concrete blocks. The two cars in which a wedding party was travelling were the most damaged.

The injured were Shamsuddin (54), a native of Velimukku South Moonniyur, his wife Razia (49), daughter Naja Fatima (15), daughter-in-law Rishana (22), son Aidin Hashif (three), Shamsuddin's sister Naseema, and Naseema's children Afrin Fatima and Mehreen Fatima. None of them were seriously injured. They were admitted to a private hospital in Tirurangadi. Traffic on this route was completely blocked following the accident. Vehicles were later diverted.

Locals protest

Locals protested, alleging that the accident was caused by the unscientific construction of the national highway. Locals also alleged that no action was taken despite being informed about the crack in the road earlier. The cars involved in the accident were towed away with great difficulty.