Biker’s death after falling off bridge: Kerala police arrest PWD official, contractor

TRIPUNITHURA: A day after a 27-year-old youth died after his bike plunged from a partially constructed bridge linking Puthiyakavu and Tripunithura on Saturday, Hill Palace police arrested a public works department (PWD) overseer and the contractor on Sunday in connection with the incident.
Three other PWD officials in-charge of the bridge work were placed under suspension.
The accident happened at around 2.30am on Saturday. Vishnu (27), son of Madhavan, Vadakke Vymeethi, Tripunithura who sustained injuries in the accident died at a hospital on Saturday noon. His friend Adarsh (22), who was riding pillion, sustained serious injuries. They were on their way to Tripunithura from Puthiyakavu when the accident occurred.
According to sources, the bridges division executive engineer, assistant executive engineer, and assistant engineer, of the project were suspended. The arrested contractor Varkkkichan Valamattam is a Tripunithura native.
PWD minister PA Mohamed Riyas told media persons that action was initiated against the officials after finding prima facie “mistake” on their side.
“The action was taken based on preliminary findings. The explanations that the officials gave were unsatisfactory. So, primarily we are placing them under suspension. Further decisions would be taken after enquiries,” said Riyas.
Riyas said when a work is going on it is essential to inform the public so that they will be cautious.
“For instance, there should be a sign board. The road should be properly blocked, in case of bridge construction… It is the responsibility of the officials to check whether the contractor is following these safety measures. Action would be taken based on the enquiry report. Such behaviour can never be accepted,” said Riyas.
It was the local residents who informed the police about the accident. The police rushed to the spot and took the youths to a city hospital. Vishnu succumbed to his injuries by 1. 45pm at the hospital.
There were no sign boards warning that the bridge was under construction. Enraged by the incident, local political leaders, and residents gheraoed the PWD office in Tripunithura on Saturday. Local residents are now planning further protests seeking compensation for the family of Vishnu.
“We are going to file a suit in court to get compensation for Vishnu’s family,” said Raju P Nair, district Congress committee secretary.
The condition of Adarsh, who was riding pillion on the bike, continued to remain serious as he sustained an injury to his spine, Raju said.
The construction of a new bridge to replace the old one had started a few months ago. It links Puthiyakavu and Tripunithura market and is also part of the road running parallel to the busy Vaikom ro- ad. Locals said without knowing that the bridge is under construction vehicles opt for this road to avoid the busy Vaikom road.
VP Prasad, Chairman, Tripunithura Rajanagari Union of Residents Association said a case should be registered against the other erring officials as well. “Mere suspension of the four senior officials from service is not a remedy for the criminal negligence from these officials,” said Prasad.
Expert calls for scientific signage
Inadequate caution signals leading to the death of a youth at Tripunithura highlights the need for ensuring that the departments concerned are enforcing the ideal practice of signaling before conducting repair works.
Road safety expert Upendra Narayanan said that the PWD work has a formal code of practice issued in 2003 on how to place caution signage but it was hardly enforced.
“There is a need for a body which can monitor road safety measures and coordinate various departments like the transport department and the PWD. The supervisory mechanisms within the PWD department are obviously not working properly and hence an expert committee is needed to monitor such works. The medieval practice of placing sticks and branches as signage shouldn’t be allowed anymore,” said Narayanan.
He said that the manual of PWD itself describes the need for ‘Men at Work’ signs and the distance at which it should be placed. “The boards should be designed on reflective surfaces. Also, there should be blinkers. If the authorities bothered to at least keep a few traffic cones in the area, the life of that youth could be saved. The irony is that the amount for such cautioning signage is accounted for in the contract. Compared to the amount the authorities would have to pay as compensation, safety could be ensured by spending very little amount on signage,” said Narayanan.