Kollam: A 50-year-old biker died after falling into a deep, waterlogged pit dug for drain construction along the national highway in Ochira, Kollam.The deceased was identified as Aji (50) of Memana South, son of Kandallur Bhaskaran Achari.According to police, around 11am, people noticed Aji lying dead in a pit dug for constructing drainage as part of NH 66 development works at Skylab Junction in Ochira. Residents alerted the police, who reached the spot and, with the help of residents, recovered the body.Later, a road barricade and Aji’s motorcycle were also recovered from the water-filled pit, police said. Officers at Ochira police station suspect that the victim might have lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the pit.Police have registered a case of unnatural death and begun an investigation. The body was shifted to Parippally medical college hospital for postmortem examination.Meanwhile, residents alleged that the accident occurred due to the lack of safety arrangements at the construction site. The pit had reportedly been left open without barricades or warning lights as part of ongoing drain construction works along the highway.In a similar accident last month, a 27-year-old biker died in Thodupuzha after he lost control of his vehicle and fell into a roadside pit dug up to construct a culvert. Following the incident, the high court had intervened and sought a report on the accident. The court also sought a report on action against officers and others responsible.
