Sangrur (Punjab): Continuous rainfall over the past two days has badly disrupted normal life in several parts of Punjab. While daily activities have been affected due to the downpour, the release of water from dams has created flood-like situations in many villages across the state.
In Sangrur, the Sangrur-Bathinda-Chandigarh National Highway caved in due to heavy rainfall, causing a sand-laden truck to meet with an accident. Police rushed to the site and diverted traffic immediately after being alerted.
According to the truck driver, the incident occurred around 3 a.m. He claimed that despite informing the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) about the collapse, no official reached the spot until 1 p.m. The driver, along with the truck owner, took matters into their own hands and diverted traffic to prevent further mishaps. Shockingly, the affected highway stretch had reportedly been repaired just 15 days ago.
The collapse left a three to four-foot-deep cavity, exposing loose soil, raising serious questions about the quality of recent repair works. The truck owner said the accident caused losses of nearly ₹7 lakh, as seven tires of the truck burst and the vehicle sustained major damage. He also expressed outrage that despite vehicle owners paying tolls of ₹2,400–₹2,500 to cross from Chandigarh to Bathinda, the condition of the highway remains unsafe. He added that no administrative officials, NHAI representatives, or police officers visited the site after the incident.
