Portion of iconic Bekal Fort's wall collapses yet again in heavy rain

Torrential rainfall weakened structure; restoration works will be taken up post monsoon: ASI

- AROCKIARAJ J @Kasaragod

YET again, the South West Monsoon struck the iconic Bekal Fort, one of the important tourist spots of Kasaragod district and a livelihood source for many, as the portion of the wall at the southeast part of the fort collapsed.

The torrential rainfall has weakened the structure with the major damage happening to the wall while two other places in the fort suffered minor damage.

The Archaeological Survey of India that maintains the fort has restricted entry to the damaged portion of the fort while the restoration works are likely to be taken up by the ASI post monsoon.

One of the biggest and well-maintained forts of Kerala, Bekal came to prominence later in 1990s after Government of India identified the structure for major face-lift under Special Tourism Zone.

Bekal Tourism Development Corporation formed in 1995 promoted the fort as an important tourism spot in Kerala by providing all necessary infrastructure.