Lucknow: Leaking drain spurs 40m road cave-in

LUCKNOW: Commuting on the Sector 14 road in Indiranagar has become a risky affair for three days now, with a cave-in leaving a 40-metre stretch out of bounds for both residents and visitors.
The road caved in by 18 feet on Saturday night, as the soil beneath it weakened allegedly due to continuous leakage from a nearby underground drain. The maimed stretch is not only causing traffic disruption, but also frequent accidents including one that took place on Monday.Fortunately, no casualties or grievous injuries have been reported.
According to residents, they heard a loud, crumbling noise around 8pm on Saturday and rushed out of their homes to see the road sinking. They barricaded the stretch to warn commuters and informed the public works department.
A preliminary inspection by PWD officials has revealed that the damage was triggered by a leak in an adjacent, underground drain. Seeping rainwater, mixed with drain water, gradually eroded the soil base, leading to the cave-in. It is yet to be ascertained for how long the drain has been leaking. Residents accused Lucknow Municipal Corporation of not heeding their complaints about clogged, congested and weathered drains. Municipal commissioner Indramani Tripathi said work had begun to assess the extent of drain leak and fix it. "A technical team is on the job. The PWD will rebuild the road once the LMC repairs the drain," he said.