The collapsed stretch of road is an artery that connects motorists to Western Express Highway and was constructed over a nullah; BMC, however, says cleaning debris from the nullah is a priority, not building a new road
A rickshaw driver narrowly escaped death after his rickshaw fell into a road that collapsed while he was driving. Nearly 25-30 metres of road caved in at Andheri (East) yesterday afternoon, and miraculously the driver escaped unhurt. The incident occurred at around 12.15 pm at Old Nagardas Road when a section of road constructed over a nullah caved in, leaving chunks of tar that resembled an earthquake.
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Soon after the incident, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials rushed to the narrow stretch of road that adjoins buildings on the left side and slums on the right hand side. According to BMC officials, regular movement of vehicular traffic had weakened the road. Authorities have now cordoned off the road, and demolished houses that adjoined the right hand side of the road to prevent any casualties.
Earthquake? Thank God, it’s not a quake. A huge stretch of road constructed over a nullah collapsed after the asphalt buckled under constant vehicular traffic in Andheri (East) yesterday. Pics/Rane Ashish
“The homes that were located on the edge of the nullah had developed cracks because of the collapse. In order to prevent any further disaster, and to protect human life, we demolished around 8-9 homes. We are using a breaker to break the road ahead and the strong vibrations can cause the homes to crumble,” said a K-east ward BMC official, on condition of anonymity.
With the closing of this road, motorists using this road will have to use an alternate route, as the road will only be repaired after monsoons.
“As rains are nearing, priority is to rid the nullah of the chunks of debris that is submerged there. This could cause massive blockage. Constructing a new road is secondary, and cleaning it now is of utmost importance,” said the BMC official.
According to the eyewitness, the incident took place between 12.15-12.30 pm. “I was standing near my house when the road collapsed. I am thankful that no one was injured in the accident. At the time the road caved in, a rickshaw was passing over it, but we safely rescued the rickshaw driver,” said Ghansham a local resident. One of the residents, whose house was demolished after the incident, said, “Monsoon is approaching, and so it is our fervent request to BMC that they allot us a temporary accommodation as soon as possible because we were staying at this place for the last 25 years and we also have proof to justify our claim.”u00a0
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