Malappuram: A bustling section of a national highway in Kerala's Malappuram district turned into a scene of chaos and alarm on Tuesday morning after a large stretch of the road caved in, disrupting traffic and raising serious concerns about construction standards.
The incident took place near Kuttippuram along National Highway 66, a vital arterial route that connects Kozhikode to Kochi. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud cracking sound followed by the sudden collapse of a portion of the road, roughly 20 meters in length, forming a deep crater that brought vehicular movement to a grinding halt. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, though several vehicles narrowly escaped disaster.
Local residents and commuters are now asking a critical question: was this a natural erosion—or a man-made disaster?
Experts from the Public Works Department (PWD) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) arrived at the scene within hours of the collapse. Preliminary assessments suggest that the failure may have stemmed from improper soil compaction and poor water drainage planning during road expansion work conducted last year. The stretch had recently undergone widening and reinforcement under the Bharatmala Pariyojana initiative.
An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, hinted at substandard materials being used in the base layers. “The binding between the asphalt and the base seems weak. With the recent pre-monsoon showers, water could have seeped through and weakened the foundation,” the source said.
Local shopkeeper Abdul Rahman, whose store faces the now-damaged road, recounted the moment it collapsed:
“Just before 9 a.m., I saw a few cracks appear on the tar. Then, in less than two minutes, the ground just gave way. People screamed and ran. It’s a miracle no one fell in.”
The incident has sparked outrage among locals, with several demanding accountability from the contractors and highway authorities. Social media platforms have lit up with hashtags like #MalappuramCollapse and #RoadOfShame, as residents share photos of the gaping hole and call for immediate government action.
Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has ordered an urgent investigation, calling the incident “unacceptable and deeply concerning.” He has instructed the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and the PWD to submit a detailed report within 72 hours.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari also responded to the incident, tweeting, “We will ensure accountability and conduct a thorough structural audit. Public safety is non-negotiable.”
Meanwhile, the highway stretch has been cordoned off, and diversion routes have been created for light and heavy vehicles. Engineers from IIT Madras are expected to assist in a structural analysis of the affected area.
This is not an isolated incident in Kerala. Similar collapses have occurred in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad in recent years, often attributed to either improper drainage systems or cost-cutting during construction. With monsoon season approaching, the urgency to evaluate and reinforce road safety infrastructure across the state has never been greater.
The collapse of the Malappuram road is more than just a freak accident—it’s a stark reminder of the potential consequences when oversight, quality control, and engineering ethics are compromised. For the thousands who use this route daily, the crater left behind isn’t just a hole in the ground—it’s a hole in public trust.
As investigations continue, the people of Kerala demand not just repair, but reform.