NH-66 collapse in Malappuram: NHAI blames rains; accident takes a political turn

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) attributed the collapse of a section of NH-66 near Kooriyad in Malappuram district of Kerala to heavy rains, denying any unscientific construction practices.

 

The incident occurred near Kooriyad service station, where part of the highway gave way, and the retaining wall collapsed onto the service road, hitting a car that was passing by. Three vehicles were involved in the resultant accident, but fortunately, no serious injuries or casualties were reported.

 

An all-party meeting held at the Malappuram Collectorate raised serious concerns about the construction quality. Public representatives said it was sheer luck that a major tragedy was averted and called out structural flaws. Officials from NHAI and local elected representatives attended the meeting.

 

Indian Union Muslim League (IMUL) leader P.K. Kunhalikutty pointed out that earlier, warnings had been issued about the site being a waterlogged paddy field. “We had clearly stated that a bridge would be more appropriate in this area. Constructing a road through such terrain was always a dangerous idea. We warned that water stagnation and heavy rains could lead to disaster. If a serious accident occurs, the authorities must bear responsibility,” he said.

 

Project director of the National Highway Authority, Anshul Sharma, said the incident happened due to the waterlogged soil becoming saturated, causing the soil to shift and collapse. He insisted that there was nothing unscientific about the construction and that there were no known complaints from local residents about the project.

 

He explained that water through capillary action can saturate the soil and, when displaced, can create cavities beneath the surface. If the soil level drops, such a cavity can lead to collapse. To investigate the incident, the National Highway Authority has appointed a three-member expert committee.

 

The three-member expert committee will visit the site on Wednesday.

 

Meanwhile, the collapse of a section of the National Highway has taken a political turn in the state. The ruling LDF had highlighted road development—including highway expansion—as one of its flagship achievements.

 

The opposition, however, has seized the opportunity to criticize the government and blame the NHAI. Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan pointed out that the collapse occurred just a day before the state government’s fourth-anniversary. “There is a complete lack of coordination between the NHAI and the state government. Those who put up celebratory flex boards are now nowhere to be seen or held accountable,” he said, making an offhanded remark about the ongoing credit war between the Centre and state over the project.

 

Satheesan further alleged that the state government is rushing to complete infrastructure projects before the elections, purely for political gains.

India