In the early hours of New Year’s Day, a large roadside panel collapsed on National Highway 66 at Ayathil Junction in Kollam, Kerala, narrowly missing several vehicles and leaving a local family shaken but unharmed.
The incident occurred at around 1:30am after workers fitted the panel and left the site, according to neighbours. The structure gave way and fell onto the highway shortly afterwards. Four-wheeler and two-wheeler traffic was passing through the junction at the time.
A family travelling on a scooter — a father, mother and child — moved away from the spot roughly a minute before the panel toppled, residents said. Their narrow escape has been cited repeatedly by onlookers expressing anger and fear over the apparent lack of on-site safety measures.
Kollam NH 66 panel collapse prompts calls for action
Locals said there were no visible safety barricades, warning signs or personnel to manage traffic after the installation work. One witness recounted how an autorickshaw driver stopped incoming vehicles and helped prevent further collisions as the panel fell.
“If our family had been a minute later, we would have been crushed,” a resident said. Neighbourhood representatives urged authorities to halt similar construction immediately and to enforce safety standards to protect commuters.
The episode has renewed debate about the supervision of roadside construction along busy corridors. National Highway 66 is a vital coastal artery that carries significant local and long-distance traffic. Safety experts say temporary installations near busy highways demand rigorous oversight, including secure fixing procedures, certified materials, proper anchoring and active traffic management until works are declared safe.
While there has been a public outcry, the report does not indicate any official statement had been issued at the time of publication. Residents have demanded a formal inquiry into the circumstances that led to the collapse and have called for accountability from the contractor and relevant civic agencies.
Local activists and commuters have urged immediate steps: suspend similar roadside fitting works pending a safety audit; ensure contractors maintain clear safety protocols; and introduce penalties for failures that endanger the public. They also want clearer inspection routines and regular monitoring by highway authorities.
Emergency services and traffic police typically respond to incidents on major highways to clear debris and maintain traffic flow. In this case, neighbours and motorists took immediate action on the spot to keep other vehicles away from the hazard until officials arrived.
The collapse at Ayathil Junction serves as a reminder of the potential dangers posed by hurried or poorly supervised construction work on high-traffic routes. Residents say they expect a prompt investigation and visible corrective measures to restore public confidence and prevent a repeat of the incident.
Key Takeaways:
- Kollam NH 66 panel collapse struck Ayathil Junction in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
- A family narrowly escaped moments before the panel fell; several vehicles were on the road at the time.
- Locals demand an immediate halt to the works and stronger safety enforcement.
- Witnesses credit an autorickshaw driver with preventing further accidents and calls for an inquiry.
