Jaipur: A newly-constructed state highway in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu collapsed just days before its official inauguration, after torrential rains triggered the water level to rise in the Katli river. A video of the incident, accessed by NDTV, is now viral on social media.
According to the NDTV report, on Sunday, July 6, heavy rains lashed the Udaipurwati region, with the area recording 86 mm of rainfall. As a result, the Katli river, which is typically seasonal, turned into a forceful stream, swelling rapidly and pushing aggressively against the recently laid highway in Baghuli.
Have a look at the clip here:
The incident raised serious concerns over the quality of construction and prompted an official inspection.
The road, which was reportedly built around six months ago to connect the villages of Baghuli and Jahaj to National Highway 52, gave way under the pressure. A significant portion of the highway also crumbled into the river, along with an electric pole, as seen in the viral video. Residents from nearby villages rushed to witness the dramatic collapse on their phones.
Questions Raised, PWD to Inspect
The collapse raised several questions over the materials and method used in the construction of the road. With the road not even opened for public use yet, the builders are now being held accountable for the mishap.
As per the report, officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) are expected to conduct a detailed inspection of the site and submit a report. The stretch was intended to provide better connectivity between rural areas and the broader NH-52 corridor leading to Jhunjhunu and Sikar.
Meanwhile, the Katli River, already under scanner due to rising encroachments and illegal sand and gravel mining, has once again demonstrated the risks posed by inadequate planning and environmental negligence.
The state administration had earlier launched efforts to clear encroachments along the river, but incidents like Sunday’s raise deeper concerns about the infrastructure planning in ecologically sensitive zones.
