A century-old clock tower at Kerala’s Kozhikode railway station collapsed on Thursday morning, raising fresh concerns over the condition of ageing railway infrastructure. Although the structure had already been identified for demolition due to its deteriorating condition, the unexpected collapse has prompted questions over whether adequate safety precautions were in place before the incident.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported as the portion of the station where the tower collapsed was not occupied by passengers at the time.
Tower Crashes Onto Platform, No Casualties Reported
According to railway police, the historic clock tower, estimated to be over 100 years old and around 20 to 25 metres tall, partially collapsed onto Platform No. 2 during the morning hours. Television visuals showed a significant section of the tower reduced to rubble after the incident.
Officials confirmed that there were no passengers on the affected platform when the structure gave way, preventing what could have been a serious accident.
Structure Had Already Been Marked for Demolition
Authorities said the ageing tower had previously been declared unsafe and was scheduled for demolition because of its weakened condition. However, the collapse before the demolition process began has sparked criticism over whether the surrounding area should have been secured more effectively.
The incident has drawn attention to the risks posed by old railway buildings that continue to remain accessible to the public despite structural concerns.
Riyas Demands Better Safety Measures
Reacting to the incident, CPI(M) MLA P A Mohamed Riyas questioned the lack of visible safety arrangements around the deteriorating structure. He said, “If cracks were noticed earlier, the authorities should have informed the public about its dangers and to be cautious. Secondly, barricades ought to have been set up. Besides that, staff should have been deployed to tell passengers to avoid the area. This is something that should have never happened. Its fortunate that no one was injured in the incident.” He also alleged that the authorities had acted irresponsibly and warned that the collapse could have resulted in a major tragedy considering the large number of passengers using the station every day.
Call for Statewide Audit of Old Railway Structures
Riyas further urged authorities to examine the structural condition of ageing railway buildings across Kerala to prevent similar incidents in the future. He said, “While constructing new buildings, we should also ensure the old ones are safe,” while calling for a comprehensive safety audit of old structures at railway stations across the state.
Questions Over Railway Infrastructure Safety
While the collapse did not disrupt passenger safety this time, the incident has renewed concerns over the maintenance of heritage and ageing railway structures. The focus is now likely to shift towards inspections, preventive maintenance and stronger safety measures to reduce risks at busy railway stations.
Q1. Why did the Kozhikode railway station clock tower collapse?
The tower had reportedly deteriorated over time and had already been marked for demolition before it collapsed.
Q2. Were there any injuries in the incident?
No. Railway officials said there were no passengers on Platform 2 when the tower collapsed.
Q3. How old was the clock tower?
The structure was estimated to be more than 100 years old.
Q4. What did P A Mohamed Riyas say?
He criticised the lack of barricades and warning signs and demanded a safety audit of ageing railway structures across Kerala.
Q5. Has the incident affected railway operations?
Authorities have not reported any major operational disruption, but the collapse has triggered a review of safety measures.
