Just a day after a 27-year-old man lost his life after falling into a roadside pit at Muthalakkodam in Idukki — an incident that sparked public outrage against the Public Works Department (PWD) — an internal report shifted the blame to the Thodupuzha municipality.
On Sunday evening at 10.45 pm, Joys Benny, a resident of Muthalakkodam, was traveling towards Thodupuzha when he allegedly lost control of his vehicle near a construction site. He fell into a deep pit next to a culvert and suffered fatal injuries.
Following widespread protests, PA Public Works Minister Mohamed Riyas asked for an urgent report from officials. A report submitted by the Deputy Executive Engineer PWD (Roads) to the Executive Engineer stated that the department was not responsible for the incident.
According to the PWD, the drainage slabs were removed last year by Thodupuzha municipality using earthmoving machinery to prevent waterlogging. The report claims earthworks damaged the culvert and led to the creation of the pit.
“The damage did not occur during any construction activity of the disabled. After discovering the problem, the municipality repeatedly called for the replacement of boards and the elimination of danger for commuters by e-mail to the disabled, but the authorities did not intervene,” the report states.
While the municipality claims that the PWD is responsible for the maintenance of the culvert, the department has since installed barricades at the Mavinchuvad site to prevent further casualties. Amid the escalating controversy, the PWD has now started work to cover the pit and complete the construction of the culvert.
Published – 18 Feb 2026 20:55 IST