NITC delegation to examine floating bridge accident

The floating bridge at Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram will be open to the public only after a safety assessment by a team of experts from the National Institute of Technology, Calicut (NITC). The NIT team is expected to visit the place in the coming week. A portion of the bridge collapsed on Saturday in strong currents, inflicting minor injuries to around 15 people. All the injured people were discharged from the hospital on Saturday and Sunday, except for two who are likely to be discharged on Monday, said officials.

According to a preliminary assessment, it has been found that the sea has been mildly rough since 4 p.m. The lifeguards had brought this to the attention of the staff deputed by the private operator of the floating bridge. However, there were no major strong

The team is expected to visit the accident spot at Varkala in the coming week

waves during the period.

It was a lone strong wave, at 4.31 p.m., that led to the accident with tourists moving en masse to the opposite side of the floating bridge.

Following this, the handrail of the bridge broke down, and the people fell into the sea in the impact of the waves, said officials from the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS). A report was given to the Tourism Director soon after the accident. Detailed guidelines are already in place for the operation of the floating bridges in the State.

In preliminary assessment, the guidelines seemed to have not been diligently followed here with the rush owing to Shivarathri festival.