Hole in Dharavi big enough for truck

In yet another horrific example of the sad state of Mumbai's roads, a bridge at Dharavi caved in on Saturday

The pathetic state of Mumbai's roads is making headlines once again. On Saturday, a tempo and a dumper plunged into the ground opposite Shalimar hotel in Dharavi, after a 30 feet long, 12 feet wide bridge, passing over a nullha on 60 feet road, caved in on 12.30 pm. Miraculously, no one was hurt.


Pic/ Shadab Khan

Thereafter, the bridge was closed to traffic from 12.40 pm, and motorists were diverted to Senapati Marg. The northbound road from Mahim towards Dharavi via Fisherman's Colony has been closed and the decision to open it will be taken after the BMC completes its inspection at the spot.

Speaking to SMD, Devendra Jain, Ward officer, G North said, "The incident took place in the afternoon when the road surface on the small bridge passing over the nullha suddenly caved in. After the incident, the traffic on the road was immediately stopped and diverted via Mahim."

Soon after the incident, fire brigade officials rushed to the spot. Consultants and officials from BMC reached the spot by evening to inspect the bridge and ascertain the cause of the incident.

An eyewitness to the incident said, on condition of anonymity, "The dumper and tempo were moving at very slow speed when the incident occurred. The driver of the dumper was accompanied by a cleaner. When they first felt the vehicle sink, they assumed the rear tyre was punctured. But when they saw the road caving in, they jumped out to save their lives."

Although the BMC is under fire for the dismal state of Mumbai's roads, sadly, this is not new. Last year, a portion of the busy Dr Narayan Hardikar Road in Worli, leading to the Bandra Worli sealink, caved in. It gave way after a 90 year-old storm water drain running 10 feet under the road collapsed.