Kochi: Maradu Municipality to fortify its danger spots

Kochi: In the wake of the  recent mishap involving a school vehicle in which three students died, the Maradu Municipality has started identifying "dangerous" terrains within its limits and fortifying such vulnerable spots to prevent such accidents in future.

On June 11, a school van carrying nursery students skidded and fell into a temple pond while negotiating an 'S'-shaped curve along the narrow Harichandra Lane road near Kattithara in Maradu. Three kids and an ayah died in the incident. There is virtually nothing that separates the road (just 2.46 metres wide) and the pond, 2.50 metres deep even near the banks.

"The work of a protection wall is fast progressing at the accident site. In addition to that, we've started identifying such danger spots and taking safety measures. Similar protection walls have already been constructed at Nettor (near railway line road) and Kattithara, where the Society Road meets Ayanithodu," said Maradu Municipality Chairperson Suneela Siby.

She observed that due to the nature of the terrain, there are a number of similar spots (waterbodies by the side of roads).

The division councillors too have submitted similar individual projects on their own, for which technical sanctions are being awaited.

 The municipal authorities have also sounded alerts to educational institutions to strictly follow the fitness guidelines for their vehicles and to ensure safe driving by their drivers.