Land cave-in on Kozhikode national highway leaves two homes at risk; residents block road

A portion of land adjoining the national highway near Mukkali in Kozhikode district caved in on Monday afternoon, leaving two nearby houses in a precarious position and renewing concerns about the stability of the ground along this stretch.

According to local accounts, the cave-in occurred around noon at a site where excavation was under way for the foundation of a protective wall. The work had been taken up on an expedited basis after two similar incidents were reported in the area earlier this year. Workers engaged in the construction were away for lunch when the ground gave way, averting what could have been a serious mishap. Several labourers are employed at the site.

The incident has brought fresh anxiety to residents living close to the highway. Two houses now stand vulnerable, and the families there say a further collapse of the soil could damage or destroy their homes. They have urged the authorities to assess the condition of the land and take protective measures without delay.

On Monday evening, residents blocked the national highway at Mukkali, alleging that officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Revenue department had not visited the site despite the seriousness of the incident. The protesters sat on the road, disrupting traffic and demanding immediate official intervention and a proper assessment of the situation. The blockade was called off after police intervened and the protesters were assured that officials would inspect the spot.

Landslips and soil subsidence along highway stretches cutting through hilly and undulating terrain are not uncommon, particularly during and after periods of heavy rain, when water seeps into the soil and weakens it. Excavation for foundations and retaining structures, if not matched by adequate slope protection and drainage, can add to the risk in such locations. This is why highway works in vulnerable stretches usually require site-specific studies before and during construction.

Residents point out that the two earlier incidents in the area were an early warning. They argue that the response since then — building a protective wall — has itself become part of the problem, with the excavation for its foundation now being linked to the latest cave-in. Officials have not publicly commented on the cause, and an assessment is awaited.

The concerns raised here are practical ones. Families living beside the highway need to know whether their homes are safe. Road users need to know whether the stretch is secure. And the agencies responsible — NHAI for the highway and the Revenue department for land and disaster-related matters — need to explain what has been done so far and what will follow.

The blockade also highlights a recurring pattern in many parts of the country: when official visits and inspections are delayed, affected residents turn to protest to force attention on their grievance. Peaceful assembly is a constitutionally protected right, though blocking a national highway raises safety issues for other road users. In this case, the protest was called off after police mediation and an assurance that officials would visit the site.

What happens next will depend on the findings of that inspection. If the land is found to be unstable, residents may need temporary relocation, and construction may need to be redesigned with stronger slope protection and drainage. Until then, the two families near Mukkali remain in their homes, watching the ground beneath them.