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Later, Taliparamba RDO T V Ranjith, tahsildar P Sajeevan, panchayat president T Sheeba and others reached the spot. In the evening, NHAI authorities and representatives of the contractor
company held discussions with the residents. The residents dispersed after assurances from the NH Authority that their project manager and an expert inspection team would visit the site
promptly. Meanwhile, an expert team from the NHAI inspected the site where the retaining wall of the under-construction stretch of NH 66 collapsed at Kooriyad in Malappuram on Monday. The
team comprising Dr Anil Dixit from Jaipur and Dr Jimmy Thomas from Kochi conducted a preliminary assessment of the damaged section, which includes both the main highway and the service road.
According to initial observations, no irregularities were found in the construction of the protective wall, which was built using cement blocks. “The initial conclusion points to a
soil-related issue,” said Jimmy Thomas. “We need to conduct a detailed analysis of all aspects, including soil composition, road design, and construction methodology. Only after a thorough
study can we confirm the exact cause,” he said. The Youth Congress took out a protest march in Kooriyad on Wednesday. The demonstrators, led by state leaders including Abin Varkey, marched
towards the office of KNR Constructions Ltd, accusing it of negligence and demanding accountability. Meanwhile, unrest is also brewing in Kunniyoormala in Koyilandi, Kozhikode, with
residents complaining that their houses are under threat due to unscientific land excavation and road construction. “Around 50 houses on both sides of the service road are facing the risk of
collapse. It’s a hilly area and when NH authorities excavated the hill to build the underpass, they used the soil nailing technology to prevent mudslides. However, the technology has proven
unscientific and many sections of the NH in Kozhikode district have collapsed during rain,” said Bhaskaran, a resident of Kunniyoormala. There residents have demanded that the government
take over the houses facing the risk. In Kasaragod, the district administration has implemented a contingency plan to prevent rain-related disasters on the NH. The collector has assigned
tahsildars to monitor the disaster management work. District Collector Inbasekar K directed the NHAI and the construction contractor to take action to prevent landslides and waterlogging
before the onset of monsoon. An expert committee appointed by the collector to study disaster management on NHs in the district found identified problems at 56 places. Its detailed report
was presented at a meeting of people’s representatives and officials on Wednesday.