A newly built stretch of road in Ahmedabad collapsed on Monday, nearly swallowing an autorickshaw and injuring its driver.
The incident occurred on Makarba Main Road, a busy thoroughfare in the city, and brought traffic to a standstill as bystanders gathered at the scene.
According to Bhaskar English, the sinkhole opened suddenly as the autorickshaw passed over what appeared to be a minor pothole.
The road, expanded to six lanes just six months ago, gave way without warning, creating a large crater that trapped the front portion of the three-wheeler.
Driver Escapes With Facial Injuries
Ranjitbhai, the autorickshaw driver, managed to escape from the vehicle with injuries to his face caused by shattered glass.
Recalling the moment, he told the publication, “I was driving my rickshaw as usual. There was a very small pothole—I didn’t notice it. Suddenly, a big crater appeared and the rickshaw fell in.”
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He added, “My head hit the glass. Blood came out due to injuries on my face.”
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the front wheels of the autorickshaw were completely inside the sinkhole, while the rear wheels remained on the road surface.
Traffic Halted As Crowd Gathers
The dramatic collapse caused significant disruption to traffic, with many passers-by and motorists stopping to survey the scene and photograph the partially submerged vehicle.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the cause of the cave-in, though the incident has raised concerns about the quality and durability of recent roadwork.
Unseasonal Rains Batter Gujarat
The cave-in comes amid a spell of unseasonal and intense rainfall affecting Ahmedabad and several other parts of Gujarat.
Over the past few days, thunderstorms, strong winds, and dust storms have resulted in at least 14 deaths across the state.
On Monday, districts including Anand, Kheda, Dahod, Aravalli, and Vadodara experienced severe weather events, with reports of lightning strikes, electrocutions, and the collapse of trees, houses, and advertising hoardings.
As extreme weather continues to batter the region, concerns are growing over infrastructure safety and the ability of public works to withstand sudden climatic stress.
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