Ludhiana: A major accident was averted in Gurdev Nagar on Thursday morning when part of a road suddenly caved in, swallowing a car and damaging the boundary wall of a nearby house. The driver managed to jump out moments before the vehicle sank into the crater.The incident took place near the turn towards Pakhowal Road, drawing a large crowd of residents and commuters. Many stopped to witness the scene, while others recorded videos and clicked photographs as the car disappeared into the collapsed stretch of road.The accident revived memories of a similar incident near Saggu Chowk in Aug 2011, when a truck fell into a collapsed road, resulting in a fatality.Car driver Manjit said he was passing through Gurdev Nagar when two vehicles approached from the opposite direction. To give them space, he swerved towards the side of the road. “Suddenly, I felt the car sinking and immediately stepped out. Before I could understand what was happening, the vehicle slipped into a large hole,” he said.MC officials were alerted immediately and teams rushed to the spot. A crane was pressed into service to retrieve the vehicle. Following the recovery, officials examined the damaged part of the road to determine the exact cause of the collapse.MC executive engineer (Building and Road Branch) Arvind Kumar said the car had been pulled out and the operation and maintenance cell was inspecting the site. “Officials are checking the damaged stretch to ascertain the exact cause behind the cave-in,” he said.Preliminary inspection revealed optical fibre cables around the affected area and signs of recent excavation work. “It appears that the sewer line may also have been damaged. We are examining all possibilities. The collapse and the vehicle falling into the crater may have further damaged the underground network, so repairs could take some time,” sub-divisional officer of the MC’s operation and maintenance cell, Jatinder Sodhi, said.As the collapse damaged part of the wall of an adjoining house, residents expressed concern about their safety. They blamed repeated digging in the locality and alleged that their concerns had gone unheeded.Social activist Ravinder Pal Singh Ghai said he had repeatedly raised objections regarding ongoing optical fibre-related excavation work. “Pits are often left unattended and pose a serious risk. Authorities failed to recognise the gravity of the issue,” he alleged.Meanwhile, rain-related road hazards were reported elsewhere in the city as well. At Deep Hospital Road in Model Town, an e-rickshaw carrying students overturned after hitting a deep pothole hidden under rainwater.The students sustained minor injuries. Residents said several e-rickshaws faced similar difficulties as drivers were unable to gauge the depth of submerged potholes. Activist Arvind Sharma said he had repeatedly highlighted the condition of the road before the incident occurred.
