NHAI team inspects site of girder collapse

Officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), including members of an expert committee, visited the beam collapse site on the Aroor-Thuravoor elevated highway in Alappuzha on Friday, where a pickup truck driver was killed, to ascertain the cause of the accident. NHAI will determine the next course of action based on the team’s findings.

The team examined where the beam fell as well as the area where it was installed. Representatives of the contractor responsible for the construction on a particular section of the national highway were also present.

The incident took place on Thursday when a beam fell while being shifted using a hydraulic jack. Rajesh, a native of Haripad, who was traveling in a pickup truck from Ernakulam to Alappuzha, died when the beam crushed the vehicle.

Collector wants report

The District Collector has sought a detailed report on the accident, which highlights the lapses of various agencies in ensuring the safety of public and motorists.

Alappuzha MP KC Venugopal wrote a letter to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, demanding strict action against those responsible for the accident and compensation to Rajesh’s family. He also urged the Union Minister to initiate an inquiry to assess the ongoing works, identify systemic glitches and recommend safety directives to prevent further accidents.

Tharoor’s petition

In a separate petition, MP Shashi Tharoor called for an independent safety audit of all ongoing National Highway construction sites in Kerala and suspension of all high-risk construction activities until certified safety clearances are obtained.

It also suggested making public disclosure of quarterly progress and safety reports as well as a revised completion timeline for all national highway projects in the state.