Waterlogged pothole claims another victim in Kozhikode, hampers livelihood

Kozhikode: A waterlogged pothole on the Puthiyapalam stretch has left an autorickshaw driver with a fractured leg and a ruined livelihood. K Subhiraj, a longtime driver from Imbichithottika House in Chennamangaloor, Mukkam, is now preparing to take legal action against the Public Works Department (PWD) after being denied relief from the police.

The incident occurred around 11.30 AM the previous day, when Subhiraj was driving from Kalluthankadavu to Puthiyapalam. Heavy rain had flooded the road, concealing a deep pothole. As the front tyre of his autorickshaw hit the hole, he turned the vechicle to the right and it overturned. Subhiraj’s leg was trapped underneath. Locals rescued him and rushed him to the Beach General Hospital, from where he was referred for surgery.

He underwent an operation at Mukkam EMS Hospital, where doctors confirmed fractures on both sides of his right foot. The broken bones have since been fixed with surgical screws.

Subhiraj, who does not own an autorickshaw and runs one on daily rent, is the sole breadwinner for his wife and son. With a daily rental fee of Rs. 400 and rising fuel costs, he barely manages to earn Rs. 1,500 a day even with long hours.Even before he accident, the family, including wife and son, has been finding hard to live on. The accident to Subhiraj has made matters worse. 

When Subhiraj approached the Kasaba police station to file a complaint, officers declined to register it, citing that the matter involved the PWD. They directed him to seek legal redress through the court, which he plans to do today.

Puthiyapalam’s cratered crisis
The roads in Puthiyapalam have been in a state of disrepair for years. Even brief showers lead to waterlogging, making hidden potholes extremely dangerous. Locals are complaining that no maintenance work is being carried out in the area due to the ongoing construction of a new bridge.

The Puthiyapalam Junction, Thali Road and Mooriyadu Road are dotted with potholes, turning every commute into a risk. A few weeks ago, a protest led by a local councillor highlighted public anger over the delay in bridge construction and the lack of basic road maintenance.