Ludhiana: A scooter rider had a narrow escape Monday afternoon when a portion of the road near Montgomery Chowk suddenly caved in, marking the third such collapse at the same location in less than a year and raising fresh concerns over the quality of restoration work carried out after a major pipeline burst.The incident occurred at one of the city’s busy intersections, where nearby shopkeepers said repeated cave-ins have become a recurring problem. About six to eight months ago, a major water pipeline burst at the site, causing extensive damage to the road and underground infrastructure.Commuter and activist Arvind Sharma, who witnessed the collapse, rushed to secure the spot by placing a bamboo pole to warn motorists and prevent an accident. He later flagged the issue to civic authorities, demanding immediate action.“The road gave way after just five to 10 minutes of rainfall. A scooter rider narrowly escaped a serious accident. This clearly shows that the earlier repair work has failed to hold,” Sharma alleged.According to Sharma, the previous collapse had severely damaged the side wall of the pipeline, necessitating extensive reconstruction. Residents had then urged authorities to ensure durable repairs, citing the heavy traffic movement through the junction throughout the day.The latest incident has renewed fears about commuter safety and the structural integrity of the stretch. Residents and shopkeepers questioned why a location repaired only months ago continues to cave in during routine rainfall.Sharma urged the authorities to immediately cordon off the affected area, conduct a technical inspection to identify the root cause of the repeated failures and undertake permanent repairs using quality materials and proper engineering standards.“Prompt intervention is essential before a major accident occurs. Repeated collapses at the same location point to a deeper problem that needs urgent attention,” he said.
