A major cave-in on Gurugram’s Sohna Road triggered panic on Thursday evening after a large portion of the carriageway collapsed near the start of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, leaving behind a massive crater estimated to be nearly 15 feet deep. Locals, stunned by the scale of the collapse, have dubbed the sinkhole “pataal lok”.
The incident has once again raised serious concerns about infrastructure quality and recurring civic failures in the area. Notably, this is the sixth such cave-in reported at the same spot over the past three years. Despite repeated repairs by authorities, the road has continued to collapse at regular intervals, pointing to possible structural issues beneath the surface.
Following the incident, two lanes of the busy stretch were blocked, leading to severe traffic congestion, especially during peak hours between 4 pm and 9 pm. While barricades have been placed around the affected area, residents complained that even 24 hours after the incident, no senior official had visited the site.
Local residents and political leaders have blamed corruption and negligence for the recurring problem. Congress leader Rajesh Yadav alleged that the road was constructed by an inexperienced contractor and that critical infrastructure beneath it was ignored during construction. According to him, a master sewer line of the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) runs beneath the road and repeated leakages have hollowed out the ground, causing the surface to cave in.
He further claimed that the project, initially budgeted at Rs 1,800 crore, has already seen costs escalate to Rs 2,200 crore, despite poor construction quality. “This is a clear case of mismanagement and lack of accountability,” he said.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported as no vehicle was passing over the stretch at the time of the collapse. Officials acknowledged that the road is a crucial link connecting Gurugram to Jaipur and Mumbai, witnessing heavy, high-speed traffic throughout the day.
Traffic police have diverted vehicles to alternate routes to ease congestion. Meanwhile, residents have demanded a permanent solution to the recurring issue, warning that temporary fixes could eventually lead to a major tragedy if not addressed urgently.
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With inputs from Neeraj Vashisth
