Curve on Chambakkara-Petta stretch turns death trap

A curve on the road stretch between Chambakkara and Petta has become increasingly dangerous, claiming four lives in two separate accidents this year. Two youths were killed when their bike rammed into Kochi Metro pillar numbered 953 near Chambakkara market in the early hours of Saturday (October 4, 2025). Another bike accident at the same curve had claimed two lives in January.

Residents have raised concerns over the lack of safety measures in the area, warning that if the situation is not addressed, the curve could become another accident hotspot. They fear it could turn as deadly as the stretch near metro pillars 825 and 826 around Elamkulam junction, where accidents have claimed at least 10 lives in the past five years.

The latest accident occurred around 1 a.m. on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Sooraj K.S., 24, son of Suresh, Muttar, Alappuzha, and Swetha Ashok, 25, daughter of Ashok, Pazhavil West, Thrissur. According to the first information report registered by the Maradu police, the accident happened while the youths were travelling from a mall in the city to Kakkanad. Both Sooraj and Swetha, who was pillion riding, were thrown off the bike on impact of the collision. Though they were rushed to a private hospital at Vyttila, they were declared brought dead.

The bodies were handed over to relatives after post-mortem, the police said. “The exact cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained. It is suspected that the rider may have lost control of the vehicle. We have not observed anything unusual at the accident site,” an officer with the Maradu police station said.

In the earlier incident, two youths lost their lives when the bike they were riding reportedly skidded off the road near Chambakkara market in the early hours of January 31. Shailaja T.K., ward councillor in the area, said minor accidents causing injuries to passengers had also been reported from the spot in the past. “The curve at the site seems to be the reason for the frequent accidents. Speed-break measures, including signboards, need to be installed to prevent accidents in the future,” she added.

Elamkulam stretch

Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) had re-laid the road stretch at Elamkulam, around 300 metres long, where the accidents occurred. Although the road was handed over to the Kochi Corporation after completion of the metro rail work, KMRL took up the responsibility of resurfacing it in response to public outcry and in the interest of public safety, a KMRL official said.

The accidents at the site are reportedly caused by the settlement of the road stretch. Metro officials have communicated to the civic authorities that rectification works have to be undertaken at the spots identified by its experts, the official added.