Unscientific road construction on the Kozhikode-Palakkad National Highway at Panayampadam, near Mannarkkad, has once again come under scrutiny following a tragic accident that claimed the lives of four school students. Despite repeated warnings and protests by political leaders and residents, authorities have failed to address the dangerous curve on this accident-prone stretch.
Speaking to the media on Friday, December 13, Palakkad MP VK Sreekandan stated, “This is not the first incident. Since 2021, accidents have been occurring repeatedly on this stretch of road. I raised concerns in the Lok Sabha using Rule 377, highlighting the dangerous curve in Panayampadam. Although NHAI officials inspected the site and implemented temporary measures like dividers and zebra crossings, accidents continued. The curve, which stretches over 1.5 kilometers, needs to be reworked scientifically.”
He also accused the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) of negligence, saying, “Despite repeated petitions to the Union Transport Minister and protests by the public and people’s representatives, NHAI officials have failed to act seriously. Their carelessness has led to this tragedy.”
Kerala Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar pointed out faulty road design and criticised the lack of involvement of engineers. “Engineers have minimal roles in highway construction. Contractors make decisions and the central government approves them. Designs are often based on Google Maps rather than actual ground inspections, leading to unscientific roads. We need to identify more blind spots to prevent such incidents,” he said.
MLA MB Rajesh called the incident "heartbreaking" and assured that the government would take necessary steps to prevent future accidents.
The District Collector has convened an emergency meeting on December 13 to address the issues concerning the Panayampadam road. A preliminary investigation by the Motor Vehicles Department revealed that the accident occurred when another speeding lorry, traveling in the opposite direction, clipped the cement-laden vehicle, causing the driver to lose control.
The tragedy occurred on December 12, when a lorry (KL 59 T 7475) carrying cement bags lost control after being brushed by an oncoming truck. The trailer of the lorry toppled over, killing four school students — Aysha, Rida Fathima, Nida Fathima, and Irfana Sheril — who were waiting at the bus stop to return home after finishing their exams. One student managed to escape.