14 hours ago
Bridge under construction collapses in Koyilandy
A bridge under construction with financial support from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) at Thorayi Kadavu near Koyilandy in Kozhikode collapsed on Thursday (August 14, 2025). Labourers present at the site had a narrow escape after a concrete beam in the middle section gave way in the afternoon.
Residents who rushed to the spot staged a protest against the Malappuram-based contracting firm P.M.R. Constructions and demanded a comprehensive investigation into the incident. They alleged laxity on the part of Public Works department officials in checking the quality and quantity of materials used in the construction.
Senior Revenue and Public Works department officials, along with local administrators, reached the spot for field-level inspections. They said an investigation was under way on the instructions of Public Works Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas, and the report would be available soon.
The government had sanctioned ₹23.82 crore for constructing the 265-metre-long bridge across the Akalappuzha at Thorayi Kadavu. Work on the multi-crore project began in August 2023. The bridge is expected to connect the Balussery and Koyilandy Assembly constituencies, offering a major advantage to residents. Villagers from Atholi and Chemanchery grama panchayats, who currently depend on boat services to cross the river, had been eagerly awaiting the speedy completion of the project.
