A recently renovated section of the Dholaikhal road in Old Dhaka has collapsed, prompting authorities to suspend traffic on the thoroughfare. No casualties have been reported in connection with the incident.
According to the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), the collapse was caused by soil displacement resulting from a leak in an old WASA water pipe. Repair work on the damaged section has already commenced.
On Monday, a large hole was observed near the road island on the stretch leading from Raya Bazar to Murgytola, specifically in the area adjacent to the Narinda intersection. Barricades have been placed on both sides of the subsided portion to prevent accidents.
As vehicles are forced to use only one side of the road, significant traffic congestion has been reported in the area.
Local sources and eyewitnesses said the middle section of the road suddenly gave way on Sunday afternoon during heavy rainfall. Upon noticing the subsidence, residents alerted the police, who then assisted locals in controlling traffic and securing the site.
Mizanur Rahman, a local resident, said, “At around 3:00 pm on Sunday, the part next to the road island suddenly subsided. On closer inspection, I saw a large hole had formed. The police were informed immediately to avoid any accidents.”
Following the incident, officials from the DSCC Engineering Department visited the site on Monday to begin restoration efforts.
Md Tariq Hossain, sub-assistant engineer at the DSCC, who is overseeing the repairs, explained that a portion of the road tilted and collapsed after the underlying soil shifted.
He noted that preliminary findings suggest a leak in a WASA water pipe, estimated to be 20 to 30 years old, had caused gradual soil erosion over a long period. This created a hollow space beneath the road, which eventually led to the collapse.
“We started the restoration work immediately after being informed of the matter,” Hossain stated.
He added that while the primary repair work would take two to three days, it might take approximately 10 days for the road to be fully opened to traffic, allowing for the necessary concrete curing time.
The engineer further clarified that the entire road would not remain closed to minimize public suffering. Instead, repair work will be carried out on one side while traffic is allowed to move through the other.
