A section of an embankment on the under-construction NH-66 collapsed at Mylakkadu, trapping vehicles and prompting renewed concerns over highway construction safety in Kerala.

Vehicles trapped after NH-66 sidewall caves in

A portion of the embankment along the Mevaram–Kadampattukonam widening project of NH-66 collapsed at Mylakkadu in Adichanalloor panchayat on Friday, creating large craters on the service road and trapping several vehicles, including a school bus. All passengers were safely evacuated, with police confirming that no injuries were reported.

The incident occurred just six months after a similar reinforced earth (RE) wall failure on the Ramanattukara–Valanchery stretch in Malappuram, raising questions about the quality and oversight of major highway construction works in the State.

Residents blame unscientific construction

Residents in Kottiyam expressed frustration, stating that they had repeatedly raised concerns about unscientific construction practices, especially in areas prone to waterlogging. They noted that craters had appeared recently on another stretch of the same project and that the District Collector had previously instructed the contractor to rectify construction flaws.

Ward member S Rajan said that the embankment works lacked proper safety reinforcements. “Construction is progressing without adequate safety measures. The authorities are playing with the lives of the public,” he alleged.

Adichanalloor panchayat vice-president Anilumar said soil-filling works for the elevated highway were underway. “During rain, water accumulates on the filled soil and often spills onto the approach road. It is suspected that pressure built up within the soil may have caused the collapse,” he said.

MP calls for structural overhaul and safety audit

Kollam MP N K Premachandran said the incident had strengthened concerns over the construction methodology adopted for elevated highways in the region. He pointed out that retaining wall failures have been reported from multiple sites.

“This shows construction without proper planning. Instead of building elevated highways by filling with earth, we must consider pillar-based structures. The Kollam incident calls for an immediate safety audit,” Premachandran said while travelling to inspect the site

Authorities launch inspection; diversions in place

Kollam Collector Devidas N, IAS, said that senior officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) — including the project director and regional officer — are en route to the location to study the structural failure.

“They will explain the technical reasons behind the collapse and recommend measures to prevent such incidents. Traffic diversions have been arranged,” he said.

Police confirmed that vehicles trapped in the cratered stretch were cleared after ensuring the safety of passengers.

Large-scale project under scrutiny

According to project details listed by Shivalaya Constructions, which is executing the work, the NH-66 widening project in Kollam:

  • is valued at ₹1,385 crore
  • spans 31.25 km
  • upgrades existing two-lane road into a six-lane dual carriageway
  • includes:
    • 1 bypass to Kollam city
    • 6 flyovers
    • 1 rail overbridge
    • 10 underpasses
    • 4 major and 3 minor bridges
    • 42 culverts
  • involves more than 1,00,000 sq. m. of RE wall
  • requires over 2.5 million cubic metres of earthwork

The scale of the project, combined with recurring embankment failures, has intensified public scrutiny over construction standards and contractor accountability.

State seeks urgent intervention from Centre

Kerala’s Public Works Minister P A Mohammed Riyas has written to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, urging swift action and requesting the Centre’s intervention.

Riyas emphasised the need for timely completion of the NH-66 project and called for strict quality controls to avoid disasters. “Safety and structural integrity must be ensured at every stage,” he said.

Residents demand transparency and corrective measures

Local communities have requested transparent findings from the safety audit and strict enforcement of corrective actions. They argue that such failures erode public trust and pose serious risks to daily commuters, including schoolchildren.

With NH-66 being one of Kerala’s busiest and most strategically important corridors, officials say the renewed emphasis on safety will be crucial for sustaining public confidence in ongoing and future infrastructure projects.