Open manholes pose threat to commuters

Open manholes at various locations in the city are posing a serious threat to commuters, with passersby at high risk of accidents while navigating the roads. The negligence of the Municipal Corporation (MC) authorities in addressing the issue has raised widespread concerns among locals.

A tour to different areas of the city reveals that several sewerage manhole covers were removed for desilting but never replaced. Manholes with either broken or no covers are visible across various localities, including main roads and bustling markets. Among the worst-affected areas are Pratap Bagh, the vicinity of the railway station, Transport Nagar and Maqsudan Chowk, where missing or improperly placed covers are creating inconvenience for commuters.

The danger intensifies during rainfall as submerged manholes become nearly invisible, endangering pedestrians and drivers alike. The rainfall in the city has further heightened these risks, sparking public outrage.

Resident Vinay Kumar urged the authorities to act swiftly. “The city received rain today and the forecast suggests more rain in the coming days. The authorities must address these issues promptly to prevent serious accidents,” he said.

Parveen Kumar, a vendor at Maqsudan Chowk, echoed similar concerns. “These open manholes are a grave danger, especially when the roads are waterlogged. A major accident can happen if drivers fail to spot missing or raised manhole covers. The authorities should conduct regular checks and fix the damaged covers without delay,” he said.

Commuters are demanding immediate intervention by the civic body to replace missing covers and repair broken ones. “The lack of timely action by the MC has left us vulnerable, turning the city’s roads into accident hotspots”, they added. They also called for the increased vigilance and regular inspections to prevent such hazards, particularly during the rainy days.