Laid and lost: New road vanishes in rain days before inauguration in Rajasthan; villagers cry foul

By: Ashok Singh ShekhawatJAIPUR: In the Baghwali area of Jhunjhunu district, the road connecting Baghwali-Jahaj to NH 52 was washed away by water in the Katli river area due to heavy rain on Sunday. The torrential rain increased the water flow, causing the Katli river to swell with fast-moving water. The newly constructed road was swept away by the strong current.The construction of this road was recently completed, but a significant portion of it was engulfed by the river's flow even before its inauguration. The road's collapse created a pit about 30 to 35 feet deep in the river. The road's disappearance completely cut off the main connection to the villages of Papra and Panchlagi.According to the locals, they complained about the use of substandard materials during the road's construction and demanded the construction of culverts in the river area, but their concerns were ignored. The locals reported that the work on the Baghwali-Jahaj road connecting to NH 52 was recently finished, and its washing away before the inauguration raises serious questions about the govt procedures and construction agencies.The villagers allege that the contractors only showed quality on paper, but in reality, used inferior materials for the road. A large number of villagers gathered by the Katli river. They have demanded a high-level investigation into the matter and strict action against those responsible. They also insist that before the road is rebuilt, the work should be supervised by technical experts to prevent such situations in the future.