Kannur (Keralam) | Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday alleged that a design flaw in the National Highway led to a mudslide at Elayavoor here, where a protection wall was damaged following heavy rains.
Vijayan, who visited the affected site a day after the mudslide, said the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had failed to take effective action despite a similar mudslide occurring there in 2023.
Speaking to reporters, he said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari himself had acknowledged that there were flaws in the design of the National Highway.
The NHAI had earlier assured that the highway would be constructed in a manner suited to Keralam's terrain.
He called for immediate steps to prevent a recurrence and demanded a detailed study of Keralam's geographical and terrain conditions.
Vijayan also urged the NHAI to use its technical expertise and systems and exercise greater caution to prevent further accidents.
Later, he said in a Facebook post that the protection wall at the site had collapsed earlier as well.
The formation of cracks in the protection wall and cracks extending for nearly 100 metres along the proposed service road have caused concern among local residents.
The gabion wall constructed between the concrete protection wall and the proposed service road is also at a lower level, he said.
Though land has been acquired for the service road, construction has not yet begun, he said, adding that around 20 houses and establishments are located on either side of the road.
Local residents are concerned that the continuing soil erosion and mudslides could pose a threat to the safety of their homes, the LoP added.
Heavy rains lashed parts of northern Kannur district on Tuesday, triggering mudslides, damaging the National Highway protection wall and disrupting traffic in some areas, district authorities said.
The site had witnessed a major mudslide three years ago, local residents said.
The district collector had sought an urgent report from NHAI officials on the incident.
