Sinkholes disrupt city traffic

Rain severely damages roads across Lahore

LAHORE:

Sinkholes formed on the roads due to ongoing rains have disrupted traffic flow across the provincial capital.

In Gawalmandi, an under-construction road gave way while a car was passing it following the rain on Saturday.

According to witnesses, the vehicle fell into the sinkhole. However, its driver only suffered minor injuries.

District administration officials pulled out the vehicle with a crane and issued orders to fill the ditch after temporarily closing the road for traffic.

Traffic in the Muslim Town area was also suspended because of a big sinkhole on the main road of the locality. An official of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) said work was being started to repair the road.

A local resident said potholes formed on the roads earlier had widened during the rain spell.

A large number of potholes also disrupted traffic flow in Johar Town.

It is suspected that leakage of the underground sewage system and the use of substandard material in the construction work caused the extensive damage to the roads despite the approval of the projects by the relevant authorities.

When contacted, an official said an inquiry into the damage to roads caused by the rains had not been ordered by the government yet.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2023.