Video: Newly-built road washed away before inauguration in Rajasthan
Jaipur: A newly-constructed state highway in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu collapsed just days before its official inauguration, after heavy rains triggered the water level to rise in the Katli river.
A video of the incident, accessed by NDTV, has since gone viral on social media. The collapse occurred after 86 mm of rainfall was recorded in the Udaipurwati region on Sunday, swelling the usually seasonal Katli river into a forceful stream. The surging waters undermined the roadbed and washed away a large chunk of the highway, including an electric pole, as captured in the widely shared footage.
उद्घाटन से पहले ही #jhunjhunu #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/7MZKQ2DWl1
— अल्हड़ पत्रकार (@Rajesh__Jamaal) July 9, 2025
The state highway, built to connect Baghuli and Jahaj with National Highway 52 (leading to Jhunjhunu and Sikar), was reportedly completed six months ago and was awaiting official inauguration. The collapse raised several questions over the materials and method used in the construction of the road.
Officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) are expected to inspect the site and submit a detailed report.
Meanwhile, the Katli river, already under scrutiny for widespread encroachment and illegal sand and gravel mining, has been the focus of state clean-up operations. The recent collapse has renewed calls for stricter environmental safeguards and better planning in infrastructure projects.
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Man arrested with Rs 2.54-crore heroin in Mumbai
Mumbai (PTI): Police have arrested a man and seized over 500 grams of heroin worth Rs 2.54 crore in the illicit market from him in Mumbai, officials said on Friday.
The police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) made the drug seizure in Santacruz in the western suburbs. The operation was conducted by the Kandivali unit of the ANC on Thursday as part of a special crackdown against drug trafficking in the area, they said.
Acting on specific inputs, an ANC team conducted a raid in Santacruz (East) and intercepted a man. During a search, the team recovered 508 grams of high-grade heroin from his possession, an official said.
The seized contraband, a highly addictive, opioid drug derived from morphine, is estimated to be worth Rs 2.54 crore in the international market, he informed.
Following the seizure, a case was registered against the man under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and he was formally placed under arrest in the early hours of Friday.
The police are currently investigating the source of the drug and trying to identify the intended recipients of the consignment, he said.
