Bhopal road collapse: Farmers, poor drainage, and substandard work cited in preliminary report

A 100-meter stretch of the Bhopal–Indore bypass collapsed on Monday October 13, forming a 30-foot-deep crater. The Madhya Pradesh government has established a three-member committee to investigate the incident. The panel has been directed to submit its findings within a week.

According to Sukhveer Singh, Principal Secretary of the state Public Works Department, the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation (MPRDC) constituted the team under Chief Engineer B.S. Meena and General Managers Manoj Gupta and R.S. Chandel. “If any negligence or irregularity is found in the investigation report, strict action will be taken against those responsible,” Singh stated, as quoted by PTI.

The collapse occurred near Bilkhiria on the bypass road connecting Indore and Narmadapuram districts. Authorities confirmed that no injuries or casualties took place, as no vehicles were on the stretch when it gave way.

Police reported that cracks first appeared around 11:30 a.m., after which officials immediately stopped traffic. Teams from MPRDC and the local administration arrived shortly after, and initial repair efforts began the same day.

Preliminary Report Findings

A preliminary report by the Madhya Pradesh government, cited by NDTV, attributed the collapse to activities by farmers, stating that soil digging near the wall blocked the drainage, which caused waterlogging inside the embankment and ultimately led to the failure of the road section.

The report also pointed to multiple engineering deficiencies, including that the reinforced embankment wall did not meet standards and that substandard soil was used in its construction. The stone pitching—intended to prevent erosion and seepage—was reportedly missing.

According to the report, ploughing of nearby land by farmers obstructed the natural drainage flow, weakening the embankment and contributing to the road’s collapse.

Structural Engineer’s Assessment

In a separate account published by Dainik Bhaskar, structural engineer Suyash Kulshrestha identified additional construction flaws. He noted that the road’s foundation should have been reinforced with gravel or boulders every three feet but was instead filled with murram (kopra) without proper compaction. This, he said, reduced soil grip and stability.

Kulshrestha added that the asphalt layer was only 15–20 cm thick, below the standard 20–25 cm, and that the retaining wall built by MPRDC did not conform to prescribed design standards. “For a height of 50 feet, a 600-foot horizontal slope should have been built, which was missing,” he said.

The engineer further noted that the road was constructed 50 feet above nearby fields and ponds, yet lacked a proper drainage system. “Without proper outlets, water collected under the surface weakened the soil over time, causing the road to sink,” he added.

Ongoing Inquiry

The three-member panel will analyze these findings to determine accountability and corrective actions. The government has pledged swift enforcement of disciplinary or contractual measures once the inquiry is complete.