Attempt to demolish old ROB in Kottayam failed

KOTTAYAM: The attempt to demolish the old railway overbridge near the railway station here failed on Saturday. Two attempts were made by the Tirupur-based company to demolish the bridge.


The first attempt was made around 11am and the second by around 5pm. The company had taken contract for demolishing the old bridge using implosion technique.

In this technique, structures and buildings get demolished within seconds by controlled blast. Rail traffic was stopped via Kottayam from 9am to 6.30pm. Following the twin failures, the Railways have put on hold the demolition process. Rail traffic has been partially restored. According to Railway officials, the company will have to work out a different plan for demolition and will have to get it approved by the Railway authorities. Till that time the demolition process is likely to be shelved.

Meanwhile, hundreds of local residents had gathered at the Nehru stadium and other high rise buildings in the area right from the morning to witness the rare scene.