Kharar-Landran road turns into a death trap: Tourist and CTU buses get stuck in potholes; two-wheeler riders at risk
On Wednesday night, a tourist bus carrying pilgrims from Odisha to Amritsar got stuck in one such crater-like pothole. The bus tyre sank so deep into the road that it remained immobilised for over two hours.
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A CTU bus stuck in a pothole near Shivalik city on Kharar-Landran road on Thursday. Express The 500- to 700-metre stretch of the Kharar–Landran Road, from Gilco Valley to Shivalik City, has become nothing less than a nightmare for commuters. Even a brief 10-minute spell of rain creates potholes as deep as 3 to 4 feet, making the road nearly impassable, even for heavy vehicles.
On Wednesday night, a tourist bus carrying pilgrims from Odisha to Amritsar got stuck in one such crater-like pothole. The bus tyre sank so deep into the road that it remained immobilised for over two hours.
Social worker and Akali Dal leader Harjeet Singh Ganja said, “We rushed to the spot and, with the help of our team and tractors arranged from nearby villages, tried to pull it out. But even one tractor wasn’t enough. It took two tractors and great effort to finally remove the bus and resume traffic.”
Shockingly, on Thursday morning, a CTU (Chandigarh Transport Undertaking) bus also fell into the same pothole, which had to be pulled out using a crane. Locals expressed serious concern over the situation. “If full-sized buses are getting trapped like this, imagine what could happen to a two-wheeler rider. These potholes could be fatal,” one commuter said.
What makes matters worse is the complete lack of street lighting on this stretch. At night or when the potholes are filled with rainwater, they become invisible, increasing the chances of accidents. Residents, familiar with the dangerous condition, are forced to risk their lives by driving on the wrong side of the road to avoid these pits, which frequently results in severe traffic jams.
This is not a one-off issue every year during the monsoon season, this problem recurs. Schoolchildren, office workers, and daily commuters are stuck in traffic for up to two hours, especially between Kharar and Sant Majra.
Significantly, residents from areas like Shivalik City, Sant Majra, Khooni Majra, and Chajju Majra recently staged protests outside the SDM office demanding immediate repair work. However, no action has been taken by the administration.
“Is fixing these potholes really that difficult?” asked angry residents. They demanded that the road be urgently repaired to end their daily suffering and prevent further accidents.
When contacted, an official from the Kharar Municipal Council said, “These potholes will be filled very soon.”
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