Doraha tragedy: Experts advise construction of another flyover in Ludhiana

LUDHIANA: Another flyover would have to be constructed over the Doraha flyover to avoid a repeat of the ammonia tanker leak in which five people were killed, a team of experts has proposed after visiting the site of the tragedy.
The team visited Doraha on Friday to examine the spot and come up with solutions following the accident. However, in the short term, the road's height would be reduced to facilitate the movement of traffic.
The team comprised experts from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), public works department, irrigation department and the drainage department. They visited the spot underneath the Doraha Flyover, where the tanker carrying ammonia gas got stuck on June 12. The driver had tried driving the struck tanker, but this had resulted in a breach in one of the valves, resulting in the Ammonia gas leak.
Five people had died after inhaling the gas, while hundreds were hospitalized. Following the accident, there have been questions about the faulty construction of the bridge. After a brief probe, it was found by the Doraha municipal council that the height of the road had increased because of re-carpeting of the road underneath the flyover, reducing the height of the bridge from the road.
However, the team of experts that visited Doraha had a different opinion, "Experts informed that the road level underneath the bridge cannot be reduced beyond a certain level as it could result in water-logging," said Ludhiana deputy commissioner Rajat Agarwa. "They have thus given an opinion that a temporary solution could be reducing the level of the road to the minimal level possible. According to them, the real solution lies in the construction of another flyover above the Doraha flyover for the Sourthern Bypass. A report in this regard is being prepared with discussions and the same would be forwarded to the government for further action," the DC added.
On June 22, a city resident, Suresh Mishra, had sat on a hunger strike on the accident spot to demand the road be dug. Following this, the MC decided to rope in a team of experts to recommend the future course of action.