AROOR: A huge girder fell on a pickup van during the construction of the elevated highway on National Highway 66 in the Aroor–Thuravoor region, killing the driver instantly. The work was being done without diverting traffic.

The victim was C.R. Rajesh (47) from Pallippad, Harippad. He died tragically due to the contractors’ negligence. Rajesh was the only earning member of his family- his wife, a sick daughter, and a son. The accident happened around 2:30 a.m. yesterday.

Rajesh was returning to Alappuzha after unloading eggs in Ernakulam. When the girder fell, vehicles, including a superfast bus, were passing both in front of and behind the pickup. It was sheer luck that the heavy girder did not fall on the passenger bus.

Three girders were being placed between the pillars. While liftin

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