Vikramaditya
Kaushalya Nagar, June 07 :Relentless rainfall caused severe damage to an under-construction culvert between Bakultala and Kaushalya Nagar in Middle Andaman on Friday, temporarily disrupting traffic on the Andaman Trunk Road (NH-4).
According to reports, the culvert was being constructed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). Torrential rain and heavy water accumulation in the area generated a strong flow that damaged the structure, forcing authorities to cut through a section of the road to allow floodwaters to pass safely.
Mr. Sanjay Kumar De, a prominent resident of the region said that vehicles were able to cross the area normally until early morning, but rising water levels soon made movement impossible. By around 7:15 a.m., traffic had come to a halt as floodwaters overtopped the roadway. With water pressure increasing rapidly, engineers were left with no option but to breach part of the road to prevent further damage and facilitate drainage.
He added that the disruption left numerous passenger vehicles and goods carriers stranded on both sides of the highway throughout the day. Travelers heading toward Diglipur as well as those coming toward Sri Vijaya Puram were forced to wait for several hours, causing considerable hardship.
Local PRI representatives, including the Panchayat Pradhan, Panchayat Samiti Member and Zilla Parishad Member, remained present at the site and coordinated with officials during the restoration work.
By evening, NHIDCL teams installed box culverts and carried out emergency repairs using stones and gravel, restoring traffic movement on a temporary basis. However, residents have demanded a permanent and durable solution, expressing concern that recurring monsoon-related damage could continue to disrupt connectivity along this crucial highway corridor.
