Alappuzha Accident: 80-Ton Girder Falls, Driver’s Body Retrieved After Three Hours

Alappuzha: An investigation has been launched into the construction negligence after a girder fell onto a pickup van, killing the driver, during the construction of the Aroor-Thuravoor elevated highway. The accident occurred on Thursday around 2:30 AM. The deceased has been identified as Rajesh, a native of Pallippad, Alappuzha.

Preliminary findings suggest the accident was caused by the girder slipping from the jack while being installed at the toll plaza section. The massive girder fell directly onto the driver’s cabin.

Officials from the construction company stated that traffic control was in place when the girder was lifted, and vehicles were allowed to pass only after confirming the girder was secured. However, a major question arises whether traffic control should have continued, anticipating the risk during the installation of such a large girder. It is believed that there was a serious lapse on the part of either the National Highways Authority or the construction company. The local MLA has announced an investigation into the incident.

Rescue operations proved extremely challenging. Despite the swift arrival of police and fire services, the lack of equipment necessary to move the heavy girder delayed efforts. Rajesh’s body could only be retrieved three hours after the accident. Reports indicate this is not the first instance of a girder falling; a similar incident occurred during the construction of the Alappuzha bypass a few months ago.

The accumulation of construction materials at the accident site further hampered rescue efforts. It was only by 6:30 AM that the girders could be lifted and the driver’s body extracted from the pickup van. The concrete girders, measuring 32 meters in length and 80 tons, fell due to the negligence of the workers installing them.