Surat: A section of the road and the open space in front of a shop caved in during construction of a bridge over a creek in Surat’s Simada area early Thursday, triggering panic among locals and raising concerns about the stability of the adjoining structure.The ground gave way as excavation work continued in the creek, causing a portion of the road to sink along with a wall in front of the shop. The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) swung into action to prevent further subsidence and ensure the safety of the building.Civic officials initiated soil-filling work to stabilise the affected stretch and prevent further damage. They also identified a water pipeline running beneath the sunken area and shut off the supply as a precaution, allowing repair work to proceed safely and minimising the risk of leakage worsening the situation.The civic body issued a notice to the agency executing the bridge project, seeking an explanation for the incident and the circumstances that led to the ground giving way. The agency was also directed to compensate the affected shopkeepers for any losses caused by the incident.“Our first priority was to ensure the safety of the shop structure, and it is safe now. We have served a notice on the agency constructing the bridge. The damage to the shop will be compensated by the agency under the provisions of its risk insurance cover,” an SMC official said.Further inspections and corrective measures are underway to assess the damage and ensure the stability of the affected stretch.
