GUJRAT: Jalalpur Jattan road’s concrete slabs caved in on Monday at the same point where they had collapsed in August.

Traders of the area had lodged a protest in August over the negligence of the authorities and some temporary arrangements were made to cover sewerage pipes. However, the concrete slabs of the road suddenly collapsed against on both sides of the road on Monday.

Official sources in the civic agency as well as the local traders say the sewerage pipes had been damaged at six points within a span of a kilometer, right from the Kutchery Chowk to the Government Vocational Training Centre.

The situation has aggravated owing to leakage and laying of a new storm water pipeline on both sides of the road during the last couple of years. They said more cave-ins might appear at three more points on the same road which needed immediate attention of the authorities.

Situation aggravates owing to leakage and laying of new storm water pipeline

The road is the route of the Hafiz Hayat campus of University of Gujrat, Nawaz Sharif Medical College (NSMC) and a number of other academic institutions.

The local traders have put some stones and their private publicity boards around the damaged portion of the road as a warning to the motorists; however, no official signboard was put up by the traffic police or the highways department even hours after the incident.

Deputy Commissioner Amer Shahzad Kang says he has issued directions to the highways department to resolve the issue.

It is learnt that the said road right from Servis Mor to Boley storm water channel has to be rebuilt for which the Punjab government has already accorded the approval. However, it may take another year to launch the work on the project since digging on Rehman Shaheed Road for laying new sewerage was launched a couple of weeks ago near Shadman Colony.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Double-edged sword
Updated 17 Apr, 2025

Double-edged sword

While remittances have provided critical support to current account, they have also been a double-edged sword.
Besieged people
17 Apr, 2025

Besieged people

DESPITE all the talk about becoming a ‘hard’ state, Pakistan is still looking incredibly soft when it comes to...
Deadly zealotry
17 Apr, 2025

Deadly zealotry

FEARS that mob attacks on international fast-food franchises would end up in tragedy have come true, after police ...
Improved outlook
Updated 16 Apr, 2025

Improved outlook

Remittances have proved to be most crucial lifeline for Pakistan in recent years.
Water dispute
16 Apr, 2025

Water dispute

WITH a long, hot summer looming ahead, the last thing the country needs is two provinces fighting over water. Yet,...
A positive start
16 Apr, 2025

A positive start

FROM American threats of bombing Iran, things have taken a more positive turn as President Donald Trump’s emissary...