Part of Parwanoo-Solan stretch caves in after heavy rainfall

Cracks had appeared on the road in the day and the GR Infraprojects staff, executing the four-laning work, had to make a hasty exit from the spot when the road started caving in. The cracks are spreading further and travelling has become risky on the national highway, which connects the state with Haryana. “The road has been widened from the valley side by raising 12 to 15 m retaining walls using fine wire mesh, but the sudden gush of water from below eroded a sizeable portion of its foundation,” said Debasis Patra, project incharge, GR Infraprojects. He said it would take them a few days to repair the damaged portion as deeper foundation, which was at least three times the usual depth, would have to be laid to strengthen the road. Around 20 machines and staff had been deputed for immediate clearance of the entire highway and the affected road. Geological experts, however, said the National Highways Authority of India should take into account whether the climatic data of a site had been incorporated while devising engineering structures and if the approved structures were being constructed by the trained staff. Any laxity could cost commuters dear. A sizeable portion of the four-laned road near Jabli had caved in a few days ago. The cost of the project is likely to go up by several crores as nearly 3.5 lakh cubic metre debris has eroded this year. -PTC News