New NH-66 Stretch in Kerala Caves In, Triggering Major Safety Concerns in Kollam (In Photos)

A portion of the adjacent under-construction service road caved in when the roadside embankment gave way. Deep craters formed instantly, trapping several vehicles on the stretch and creating panic among commuters who were travelling through the busy corridor at the time.

A newly built stretch of NH-66 at Mylakkadu in Kollam suffered a major embankment collapse around 3.30pm on Friday. The failure occurred along the Mevara–Kadampattukonam section, raising serious concerns about the structural stability and quality of ongoing highway works in Kerala.

Among the trapped vehicles was a school bus carrying students. Police and locals quickly reached the spot and evacuated all passengers to safety. Officials said timely intervention prevented injuries, though the incident highlighted the dangers of allowing traffic near unstable work zones.

Police cordoned off the collapsed section and initiated safety checks. Structural experts began preliminary assessment, while an NHAI official said the exact reason for the failure remained unclear. The site sits on reclaimed paddy fields, which officials believe may have contributed to the collapse.

Following the Kooriyad incident, NHAI suspended the project director, terminated the site engineer and blacklisted contractor and consultancy firms. An expert panel later examined 17 NH-66 sites and recommended stronger geotechnical evaluation and safer slope-stabilisation methods for future works.

The collapse caused widespread concern among residents, with commuters reporting fear and uncertainty over using the route. People living near the stretch said frequent construction activity and vibrations had already raised safety worries, and the incident has heightened demands for stronger monitoring of NH-66 works.

Congress MP K C Venugopal alleged that poor construction quality and corruption were behind repeated road failures in Kerala. He said the state government was rushing NH projects ahead of the assembly election, compromising scientific design, safety standards and geotechnical due diligence.

A similar collapse occurred in Malappuram’s Kooriyad in May 2025, where a 250-metre elevated NH-66 segment sank near reclaimed paddy fields. Multiple vehicles were damaged and commuters suffered minor injuries, prompting strong criticism of the state’s highway construction practices.