Roads turn into a deathtrap after rain

Roads turn into a deathtrap after rain

Mangalore Today News Network

-By  Nishanth Raj M

Mangalore, August 2: The monsoon rains have left almost all roads in the district in a bad shape. The non stop downpour since Monday, July 25 has also battered the common life in the city.

 

 

 

 

 

One of the main roads linking to Kasargod district, Kerala has taken a bad beating from the heavy rain fall. The condition of the road has hit the smooth flow of traffic between Mahaveer Circle (Pumpwell) and Thokkottu. The passengers are forced to endure a prolonged journey of nearly half-an-hour as against the usual fifteen minutes travel between these two points. The four wheelers and two wheelers are seen crawling at a snails pace in order avert any accidents as the NH 17 has developed big potholes on this route due to the heavy shower.

Ironically, despite all these hassles, an incident of rash driving on this route claimed two lives on July 25. Typically the rash driving is seen among the city bus drivers who have to keep pace with the competition and the recent tragedy has done little to curb their speed menace, making travel on the State highway on Pumpwell-Thokkottu stretch a nightmare for other motorists and pedestrians. The road observes heavy traffic in the peak hours. However, the Thokkottu Junction-Talapady Road and the Talapady-Kasargod road are in a good shape.

The lack of proper maintenance and the inordinate delay in carrying out repairs have riddled the roads with potholes. The rain and the water logging have made matters worse, turning many stretches into death traps. Two-wheeler riders are caught unawares by the potholes, especially at night.

Little has been done by the Public Works Department (PWD) to fill these potholes. The asphalting of the road is yet to be completed on this route as the tarring work was completed only up to Thokkottu Junction.

 
Rash driving and Overload of Bus may cause accident:
Most of the dwellers of this route are dependent on the local bus services. There are several buses numbering 42, 43, 44, 55, 54 which ply on this route. One has to take this route as a major road to reach The Mangalore University, Konaje, K.S Hedge Charitable Hospital, Yenepoya Dental College, Ullal Durga, Summer Sand, Someshwara temple and beach, Talapady and other important areas. This may be the prime reason for the heavy traffic on this route says Ramachandra Bhat, a crime photo journalist. Like wise, the residents of this area also use the road to reach the city. Even though plenty of buses are plying on this route, commuters still travel on this route with the grip of panic.