Road caves in Dwarka, raises concern over road infrastructure in national capital

After heavy rainfall in the national capital, a road caved in near the National Law University in Dwarka Sector-16, New Delhi, on Sunday morning, creating a huge crater that nearly swallowed a vehicle.

No injuries were reported in the incident, and the area surrounding the pit has been cordoned off with Delhi Development Authority (DDA) barricades.

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The road collapse triggered traffic disruptions in Dwarka, one of the busiest areas in the capital. It also raised concerns about the quality of construction and maintenance of roads in Dwarka, which has witnessed similar incidents in the past.

According to a news agency, authorities are probing the cause of the sinking of the road. Waterlogging and the use of substandard construction material seem the likely factors.

Locals and commuters have long registered complaints with authorities about open potholes, waterlogging, and sinking roads across the city, as they escalate the risk of accidents — especially during the monsoon months. According to the residents, the Dwarka cave-in is yet another reminder of how fragile Delhi’s road infrastructure has become.

On August 18, a similar incident was reported from Delhi’s Burari area, where a car plunged into a large pit formed in the middle of the road.
The mishap took place in a busy market area, although no casualties were reported, the incident sparked panic among locals. Video footage of the incident went viral on social media, showing a white car stuck in the gaping sinkhole. Onlookers rushed to rescue the driver, who was safely pulled out, while the car was later lifted with the help of a crane.

Earlier in February this year, a car fell into a pit after a portion of the service lane in Dwarka Sector 12 near KM Chowk collapsed. The accident happened when a slab covering a drain caved in, once again underlining the poor state of road infrastructure in the national capital.