DK Rains: Bangrakulur 4th Mile road beside stormwater drain collapses

MANGALURU: The heavy rains from the past two days have resulted in direct road access being cut off to about 10 houses in Bangrakulur after a 100 meter portion of the 4th Mile Road, beside the stormwater drain, collapsed on Tuesday.

The stormwater drain receives heavy flow during monsoon as it receives rainwater from areas like Kottara, Kodikkal and Akash Bhavan areas. The drain empties into the Phalguni River at Dambel.

The road gives access to about 10 houses in that area and also leads to an engineering college. Bangrakulur Corporator Kiran Kumar said that the residents had been informed that the road had developed cracks a week back and sandbags were placed on the road to prevent four wheelers from using the unsafe access. He said three days back eight electricity poles were shifted. ``Today morning locals called and said the cracks had gotten bigger and by the time I arrived, about 100 meters of the 350 meter road, on the stormwater drain side, collapsed partially,’’ he said.

As a temporary measure, the residents have been given access through an alternate road from Kodikkal 10th cross. Kumar said he had requested the college authorities to allow the public to pass through, as the access has to be provided through the college campus. The corporator said the retaining wall was constructed using stones about two decades back and had become weak due to constant flow of water.

The City Corporation Commissioner had visited the spot. The Mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur and MLA Bharath Shetty have requested the commissioner to construct concrete retaining wall and road for the collapsed section when weather relents to prevent further deterioration of the road.