Thrikkakara village installing fencing along the road after the girl’s fatal fall sparked protests

Work is underway on the construction of protective fencing at Mavelipuram in Kakkanad, where a 12-year-old girl died after falling from an elevated section. | Photo credit: THULASI KAKKAT

Three days after a 12-year-old girl died after falling nearly 20 feet from an elevated municipal road while cycling in Kakkanad’s Mavelipuram, the Thrikkakara municipality has started constructing protective fencing along the accident stretch, amid mounting criticism over alleged negligence in ensuring safety measures.

The village decided to build a fence from its own funds after the death of Rihana Kathrine Andrewsová, a student of VII. class, on Sunday (June 21, 2026), has sparked widespread outrage and safety concerns. She was riding her bicycle near her residence when she lost control and fell into the compound of an apartment complex below after the bicycle hit the edge of an elevated road.

The girl succumbed to severe head injuries. Local residents, including residents of the housing complex, claimed that despite the steep drop along the stretch, the municipality raised the road level and laid interlocking paving without installing adequate protective barriers.

Municipal chairman Rashid Ullampilly said the local body had issued a show-cause notice to the officer responsible for the delay in negotiating a representation seeking a protective wall at the accident site. “Along with the fencing of the site, we have initiated measures to prevent similar incidents elsewhere. An official has been assigned to identify other dangerous places in the village and fencing or protective barriers will be installed where needed,” he said.

Opposition Left Democratic Front councilors and Democratic Youth Federation (DYFI) activists on Tuesday (June 23, 2026) staged a sit-in outside the municipality’s PWD wing, accusing the civic body of negligence. On Wednesday (June 24, 2026), activists of the Students’ Federation of India also took out a protest march to the municipal office.

The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) has lodged a complaint with the Thrikkakara police to register a case against the municipality. “We have registered a case related to unnatural death and further action will be taken based on all aspects, including reports from concerned departments,” said a police officer.

SHRC orders probe

Meanwhile, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Wednesday ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident. SHRC chairman Alexander Thomas directed the district collector to depute an officer of the rank of finance divisional officer or sub-collector to conduct the site inspection. The deputy commissioner of police and PWD technician selected by the collector should also participate in the inspection. The Collector, Principal Secretary of the Local Government Department and Municipal Secretaries of Thrikkakara have been asked to submit separate reports on the incident to the Commission within four weeks.

Published – 24 Jun 2026 21:26 IST