In the early hours of Thursday, a devastating accident took place near Chandiroor on National Highway 66 in Kerala, where two large girders being installed on the Aroor–Thuravoor elevated highway collapsed onto a pickup van.
The victim, Rajesh, a 48-year-old driver from Pallippad, Alappuzha, was killed instantly when one girder weighing about 8,000 kilograms and measuring 32 metres fell fully on his vehicle while the second girder partially collapsed. Rajesh was transporting eggs from Tamil Nadu to Alappuzha at the time.
Rescue crews laboured for over three hours using cranes to remove the girder and recover his body from the wreckage, highlighting the scale and severity of the collapse.
Investigation and Official Statements
Preliminary inquiries by the Alappuzha District Collector, Alex Varghese, indicate that a hydraulic jack malfunction during the girder placement caused the collapse. The Collector insisted on a thorough probe into possible lapses in safety protocols and traffic management at the site.
Although contractors claimed the accident resulted from the sudden failure of the hydraulic jack and denied negligence, there were warnings that at the time of the incident, vehicle movement was not fully blocked, which might have contributed to the tragedy.
The Public Works Minister, P.A. Mohamed Riyas, has sought a detailed report from authorities, while local political representatives, including Aroor MLA Daleema Jojo, expressed sorrow and urged strict safety arrangements, noting recurring accidents at the construction site despite earlier safety concerns flagged to the district administration.
According to the police, around 2:30 a.m., workers were placing a girder for the overpass when it was lifted and positioned on a hydraulic jack. The jack then slipped out of its intended spot, causing the massive steel-reinforced concrete beam to fall onto a passing pickup van below.
Disruption and Traffic Management
Following the accident, authorities imposed traffic restrictions along the affected stretch of NH 66. Vehicles heading towards Ernakulam are being diverted via Cherthala X-ray Junction and Poochakkal, while those travelling to Alappuzha divert through Arookutty. These detours aim to facilitate rescue and clearance operations while maintaining flow on one of the state’s busiest highways.
Local residents have expressed frustration over frequent accidents and inadequate corrective action in this construction zone, underlying the urgent need for better construction site management and safer night-time work practices during ongoing infrastructure development.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This incident reinforces the critical importance of uncompromising safety standards in ambitious infrastructure projects. While expanding and modernising transport links is vital for India’s growth, it cannot come at the expense of human lives.
A transparent investigation and accountability measures are imperative to uncover the true cause of this collapse and prevent recurrence. Furthermore, it is essential for project contractors and authorities to ensure robust traffic control, enforce safety protocols strictly, and engage with local communities to reassure them of their commitment to safety.
#Kerala : In a tragic accident that has once again raised questions about safety practices at major infrastructure projects, a pickup van driver was killed early Thursday morning after an 80-ton concrete girder collapsed onto his vehicle at the Aroor-Thuravoor elevated road… pic.twitter.com/zo9tPl5Hzx
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) November 13, 2025
