Lucknow: A portion of the road carriageway on Ganga Expressway in Unnao caved in on Tuesday morning after heavy rainfall lashed the district, prompting emergency repair work on a key access point of the high-speed corridor near Dahi Chowki.The cave-in occurred on the entry ramp used by vehicles to merge onto the main carriageway, near milestone 423 km, affecting the Unnao–Rae Bareli-bound side and the ramp leading towards a food plaza located close to Dahi Chowk.Officials said the incident was reported early Tuesday and the concessionaire, along with the contractor responsible for corridor maintenance, mobilised teams to restore the damaged stretch. Repair and restoration work was completed within about two and a half hours, allowing traffic movement to normalise on the affected approach.Officials from Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) said the collapse was caused by rainwater washing away soil beneath the road surface, creating a void that led to the caving in of the ramp section. Maintenance workers first laid carpet over the area to channel fast-moving rainwater away from the damaged patch and prevent further erosion. The section was later filled with concrete and boulders as part of the immediate repair.Continuous rain also triggered waterlogging at the toll plaza near Dahi Chowki on Ganga Expressway, where water inundated parts of the facility. Private staff deputed to manage toll operations said restrictions were enforced because high-voltage power transmission lines run close to the plaza, requiring safe clearances between concrete structures and electrical infrastructure.As a longer-term measure, the concessionaire is expected to undertake remedial works, including construction of a retaining wall along the toll booth plaza area to reduce the risk of waterlogging during heavy showers.In view of the persistent rainfall, Unnao district administration ordered closure of schools on Tuesday as a precautionary measure.
