A major road accident was narrowly avoided in Madhya Pradesh on Monday afternoon after a 100-meter stretch of road near Sukhi Sewania, on the outskirts of Bhopal, suddenly collapsed, creating a 30-foot-deep crater. The incident occurred between 12 noon and 1 p.m. near the bridge connecting Mandideep to Intkhedi. Fortunately, no vehicles were passing when the road gave way, and no injuries were reported.
The road connects key routes from Bhopal to Indore, Hoshangabad, Jabalpur, Mandla, and Sagar. It lies under the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation (MPRDC) and forms part of State Highway-18. According to officials, around 25 to 30 vehicles pass through this bypass every minute, highlighting how close the incident came to being a tragedy.
Officials Begin Investigation
The MPRDC said a team has been formed to investigate the collapse. “About 100 meters of the road has caved in, leaving a 30-foot-deep crater. We are forming a team to investigate this matter. Preliminary findings suggest the collapse of the Reinforced Earth (RE) wall,” said MPRDC Divisional Manager Sonal Sinha. “The cause of the accident will be clear after the investigation report is released.”
Barricades were immediately placed along the damaged section, and one side of the road was closed to traffic. Police from Sukhi Sewania station reached the spot within minutes. “We received information around noon that the road was sinking,” said Station House Officer Rambabu Choudhary. “We rushed to the site, blocked traffic, and deployed additional personnel to control movement.”
According to the report of NDTV, The MPRDC has constituted a three-member technical committee to examine the structural failure. The team includes Managing Director and Chief Engineer B.S. Meena, General Manager Manoj Gupta, and General Manager R.S. Chandel. “If the investigation reveals negligence or irregularities, strict action will be taken against those responsible,” said MPRDC Managing Director Bharat Yadav.
Road Built in 2013, Left Without Maintenance
The collapsed section was built in 2013 by M/s Transtroy Pvt. Ltd. under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. The company’s contract was cancelled in 2020 for failing to meet construction terms, leaving no official agency responsible for maintenance since then. The MPRDC later assumed oversight and handled minor repairs when needed.
Public Works Department (PWD) Principal Secretary Sukhveer Singh said the collapse appeared to be caused by damage to one side of the retaining wall of the railway overbridge. “There was no loss of life or property. A committee has been formed to investigate the structural and technical reasons behind the collapse, and strict action will follow,” Singh said.
PWD Minister Rakesh Singh, speaking to reporters from Delhi, said he had been informed about the incident and ordered a detailed probe. “The investigation will include technical aspects. The guilty will not be spared,” he said, adding that repairs would begin immediately.
Public Reaction and Political Response
Residents in nearby villages expressed concern about the safety of roads in the region. “This bypass is used by heavy vehicles every day. The road looked weak for months,” said Gopal Das, a resident of Kalyanpur.
Opposition leaders visited the site soon after the collapse. Congress leader Manoj Shukla blamed the government for poor maintenance. “Under the road’s surface, only red soil can be seen instead of solid material,” Shukla said during a protest at the site. “This shows negligence and corruption.”
The cave-in is the second road collapse in Bhopal in four months. In July, a road near MP Nagar sank eight feet deep after heavy rains, though no casualties were reported then either.
As of Monday evening, traffic on the affected stretch remains closed. Repair and soil stabilization work has begun, while the investigation team examines the cause of the collapse.
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