Rajasthan: Newly-built road washed away by rain; locals flag corruption

Jaipur, Jul 9 (PTI) A newly-built section of a state highway in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district collapsed after being battered by the swollen Katli River following heavy rainfall, triggering questions over construction quality and safety oversight.

The recent Sunday's downpour raised the river's water level dramatically, sweeping away a large portion of the road.

According to the Jhunjhunu Police Control Room, the stretch connecting Baghuli and Jahaj villages with National Highway 52 was completed six months ago and was awaiting inauguration on an unconfirmed date. The area recorded 86 mm of rainfall in a single day, according to the Meteorological Department.

Videos of the collapsed section quickly circulated on social media, in which locals claimed that the river currents were so strong they uprooted an electric pole, which fell into the water, drawing further attention to the incident.

The residents voiced anger over what they called shoddy work and demanded accountability. They also highlighted concerns about alleged encroachments and illegal sand mining in the Katli river.

In response, the state administration recently launched an anti-encroachment drive to address these issues.

The Katli river, a seasonal watercourse, flows through Sikar, Jhunjhunu, and Churu districts and has faced increasing environmental pressures. PTI AG APL APL MPL MPL