PERNEM
Occupants in a car had a lucky escape when a portion of a protection wall came crashing down on the NH66 at Malpem-Pernem on Saturday.
According to reports, the incident took place at about 10 am when the portion of a protection wall came crashing down and large boulders came tumbling down seconds as a car proceeding towards Maharashtra reached the site. The occupants escaped unhurt, but the front portion of the car sustained some damage.
Leaders and locals were, however, critical of the substandard work on the protection wall, which got damaged with the first monsoon rains. There are now fears that other portions of the protection wall could also collapse.
In the afternoon, Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar and others visited the site to take stock of the damage to the protection wall. He later directed PWD officials and engineers to divert traffic along the old route until the protection wall is properly reconstructed.
Tambose-Mopa-Ugvem Sarpanch Subodh Mahale criticised the poor quality of the protection wall.
