10-feet deep pit! Road caves in at Board Office Sq

 

 

Following heavy rainfall in Bhopal on Thursday, a large section of the road at Board Office Square (near MP Nagar Square) suddenly caved in. This created a pit approximately 10 feet deep and wide, disrupting traffic in one of the city’s busiest areas. Fortunately, no vehicle or pedestrian was near the sinkhole at the time of the incident, averting a major accident. Cause of Road Collapse and Local Allegations: It is believed that an old sewage line or drain runs beneath the collapsed section. The collapse of the drain wall led to water seepage, weakening the ground’s stability and causing the road to sink. This road falls under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department (PWD). Local residents have attributed the incident primarily to corruption and the use of substandard material in road construction. Some even registered their protest by offering flowers, garlands, and incense sticks at the site of the approximately 20-year-old road.

 

Prompt Administrative Action and Traffic Diversion: Immediately after the incident, the officials of municipal corporation and Traffic Police arrived at the scene. The pit was cordoned off with barricades. MP Nagar SDM L K Khare inspected the site and informed the media that road repair work has commenced. He expressed hope that the road would be fixed soon. Congress Launches Sharp Attack and Protest: Following the road collapse, the Congress party launched a scathing attack on the Government and administration. Congress spokesperson Abhinav Barelia staged a sit-in protest near the pit. Barelia alleged that this situation reflects the condition not just of Bhopal’s roads, but of roads across the entire State. He asserted that despite crores of rupees being spent, the poor quality of roads becomes evident during the monsoon, a clear result of negligence.