Gurgaon: A truck carrying plywood plunged into a stormwater drain on Pataudi Road on Friday morning after a slab collapsed.No one was injured after the slab covering the drain collapsed near Radha Soami Satsang Ghar. According to residents, the vehicle slipped into the opening and overturned, leaving its wheels lodged inside the drain. The driver jumped out of the truck and escaped unhurt.The incident has raised questions over the quality of the recently completed drain work and the safety of commuters using the busy stretch. Local residents and shopkeepers claimed that this was not the first such mishap in the area. At least three incidents have taken place recently, they said.An MCG engineer told TOI, “This stretch is part of the road to be transformed into a model road by HSIIDC. Such incidents have happened earlier too. They happen because of the heavy weight of these vehicles.”Residents have demanded an “inspection” of the entire stretch and the quality of the work carried out by MCG. Locals said the condition of the stretch becomes particularly risky during and after rain, when water can weaken the area around the drain.Ajay Veer Singh, a shop owner who runs a dhaba near the spot, said commuters were being “exposed” to a serious safety risk.“Similar accidents have happened three to four times recently. The authorities must inspect the entire stretch and fix the problem permanently before a major accident claims someone’s life. The incident raises questions as to whether the structure was properly constructed to bear the load of vehicles,” Singh said.
