13 roads cave in with 6 hours of downpour

A stretch of over 200 metres of the Mehrauli-Badar-pur Road in south Delhi caved in after incessant rains — one of 13 road stretches that collapsed on Thursday, when the city received 108.5 mm rainfall.

A stretch of over 200 metres of the Mehrauli-Badar-pur Road in south Delhi caved in after incessant rains — one of 13 road stretches that collapsed on Thursday, when the city received 108.5 mm rainfall.

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Experts said construction activities across the Capital and overloaded sewer line have taken a toll on the already dilapidated roads. “Shifting of services due to construction activities is one of the reasons for roads sinking,” PWD engineer-in-chief Rakesh Misra said.

Since August, 20 road stretches have collapsed across the city. South Delhi’s Aurobindo Marg and Defence Colony — where underground Metro lines are being built — are some roads that caved in recently.

Experts blame it on poor restoration after construction or repair.

“Agencies repairing the road often leave the work half done, which leads to erosion of soil. Water and vehicular pressure further erodes the road,” said S.M. Sarin, former director, Central Road Research Institute, Delhi.