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‘Who will compensate us for our injuries, damages’: Victims of crumbling roads recount harrowing experiences

Professor Ajay, who teaches Geography at a college here in Chandigarh, suffered minor injuries after his bike skidded on a pothole two weeks ago.

Detailing his ordeal, Sanjay Kumar, another resident, specified how he bumped into a potholed stretch in Sector 22, that left his car damaged, following which he had to spend thousands of rupees for repairs.

Who will pay for the injuries? Who will repair our vehicles? These are some of the main questions Chandigarh residents are seeking answers for from the administration on the losses they suffered while navigating through the city roads. While some of these roads are already damaged, others deteriorate severely during this season’s rains.

Professor Ajay, who teaches Geography at a college here in Chandigarh, suffered minor injuries after his bike skidded on a pothole two weeks ago.

While speaking to The Indian Express, he said, “I was going on a potholed road on my bike. Near Sector 40 lights, I bumped into two big potholes following which I fell. Thank God, I was wearing a helmet, due to which my head was saved but I got some injuries on my elbow and legs”.

The 16-kilometre stretch that he often takes is a “pain”, he said.

“I am a daily commuter from Zirakpur to Chandigarh and have to travel on a nearly 16-km stretch that is full of potholes. Due to the poor road condition, my Volkswagen car recently developed a sudden cranking noise from the front right side. When I asked the authorised service centre they quoted over Rs 17,500 plus labour charges for replacing the damaged suspension part. “However, I managed to get the repair done at around Rs 5,500 through a local mechanic,” he said.

“The bad condition of this road is causing unnecessary damage to vehicles and financial burden on commuters. Who shall compensate for our damage,” he asked.

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Professor (Dr) Karan Vinayak, who commutes daily from Sector 45 to Sector 10 and goes to PGIMER also when needed, told The Indian Express how he just paid Rs 10,000 last week as shockers and suspension of his car got damaged due to potholes.

“My Car — Alto K10 — got affected due to potholes and the bad shape of roads. This would not have happened, if the roads would have been regularly repaired and in good shape. I got my suspension, shockers damaged and had to get my car repaired. Even the starring parts were repaired. I had to pay around Rs 10,000 for overhauling the systems of suspension, steering and shockers,” Vinayak said.

Amandeep Singh, a resident of Sector 38-A, also met with an accident while driving near the Panjab University (PU) area.

“I was driving near the PU area when I fell due to the potholes. You can imagine the plight of two-wheelers. It is unsafe all over Chandigarh. The situation becomes all the more tough during rains. If we try to navigate, the car drivers bump into us,” he said.

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Mohit Gupta, a resident of Sector 25 said, noted that wear and tear of suspension, shock absorbers and consequent excess tyre wear due to faulty alignment is a known fact when it comes to driving via damaged roads.

“At times I have seen accidents too on the road caused by drivers trying to avoid potholes and changing lanes without notice. So timely care of potholes on roads in any city effectively means enhanced human and vehicle lives and a lot of monetary savings for the residents too,” he added.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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