Lorry crashes through Kochi bridge railing, dangles over backwaters; major disaster averted
A tipper lorry crashed into the Kundannoor-Thevara bridge railing in Kochi, becoming precariously suspended; the driver escaped unharmed. Traffic was temporarily disrupted but has since resumed.
A tipper lorry crashed into the Kundannoor-Thevara bridge railing in Kochi, becoming precariously suspended; the driver escaped unharmed. Traffic was temporarily disrupted but has since resumed.
A tipper lorry crashed into the Kundannoor-Thevara bridge railing in Kochi, becoming precariously suspended; the driver escaped unharmed. Traffic was temporarily disrupted but has since resumed.
Kochi: A major tragedy was narrowly averted in Kochi on Thursday after a tipper lorry lost control, crashed through the concrete side railing of the Thevara-Willingdon Island bridge, and was left hanging precariously over the backwaters below.
The dramatic accident occurred on the Alexander Parambithara Bridge while the lorry was travelling from Willingdon Island towards Kundannoor carrying clay and other waste materials reportedly excavated from a drainage canal.
According to Ernakulam South Police, the driver, Anilkumar, a native of Varkala, who lives in Aroor, swerved sharply while attempting to avoid a collision with an oncoming vehicle. The police said that a second lorry travelling behind the tipper may have struck it from the rear at the same moment, further contributing to the loss of control.
Instead of coming to a halt, the heavily loaded vehicle veered into the bridge's concrete safety barrier, smashing through the railing. The impact sent the front portion of the lorry completely over the edge of the bridge, leaving the cabin suspended dangerously above the water while the rear section remained lodged on the footpath of the bridge.
Fortunately, no casualties or serious injuries were reported.
The driver, who was alone in the vehicle at the time of the accident, escaped with minor injuries after displaying remarkable presence of mind. According to the police, he managed to climb out after the front half of the lorry plunged over the edge and came to a halt.
“The driver sustained minor facial injuries from the impact and has been shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. After the vehicle crashed through the railing and became suspended, he managed to get out, crawl to the rear, and reach safety. We suspect another lorry may have struck the vehicle from behind, which could have contributed to the loss of control. Fortunately, no pedestrians or occupants of other vehicles were involved in the accident,” a police officer said.
The incident has caused severe traffic blockages along the crucial Willingdon Island-Thevara-Kundannoor corridor, triggering significant congestion during the afternoon. The police and fire force personnel rushed to the scene and immediately secured the area while controlling the traffic to let vehicles pass through the narrow space at the accident spot.
The authorities have managed to stabilise the dangling vehicle. Heavy-duty cranes have been roped in to carefully lift the suspended lorry back onto the bridge deck. “The cranes are on the way. Vehicle movement in the immediate vicinity will be restricted to facilitate the smooth recovery of the vehicle,” police sources said.
The police have launched an investigation to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the crash.