A devastating accident occurred on May 12 afternoon in Cheruvathur, where a hill caved in during National Highway (NH) expansion work, resulting in the death of one labourer and leaving two others critically injured. One more worker escaped with minor injuries.
The collapse happened near Muttalayi, amid road widening efforts under the NH development project. A large portion of the hillside gave way, trapping the workers beneath the debris.
The deceased, Mumtaz Mir (18) from West Bengal, was found dead at the site after hours of rescue operations by Fire and Emergency Services and local police. Injured labourers Munal Laskar (55) and Mehan Tejar (18), also from West Bengal, were pulled from the rubble and admitted to a private hospital in Cheruvathur. One labourer had a narrow escape with minor injuries.
Several workers were reportedly present during the mishap, but many moved away just in time, said eyewitnesses.
Taking serious note, District In-charge Minister A K Saseendran directed a comprehensive investigation, urging officials to submit a detailed report and strengthen safety measures for infrastructure works. The minister emphasized the need to prevent such tragic incidents during ongoing development.
Senior officials, including District Collector K Imbashhekhar, SP Vijay Bharat Reddy, and NHAI Project Director Umesh Ghar, conducted an inspection at the site.
The incident has reignited concerns over worker safety and terrain assessment in high-risk zones. Authorities are expected to review and enhance existing labour protection protocols immediately.
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