Mahakal Marg sees houses at collapse risk:Three-storey building falls in Ujjain, traffic not halted; Municipal Corporation warns danger persists

Even after a house collapse in Ujjain during an ongoing road-widening project, the danger is far from over. Two more houses at the same location on Mahakal Road are now on the verge of collapsing, raising serious safety concerns. The incident occurred in the midst of a project that involves the partial demolition of 568 houses to widen the road. Notably, the municipal corporation was already aware of the potential danger. However, no timely action was taken—neither was the accumulated water drained, nor was the area completely evacuated. On Monday evening, a three-storey building collapsed on the route leading to the Mahakal Temple. A video of the incident had also surfaced. When a Dainik Bhaskar team visited the site on Tuesday, the debris of the collapsed structure had been cleared, but the water that had accumulated in front of the houses for the past month remained unchanged. This prolonged waterlogging has significantly weakened the foundations of nearby houses, increasing the risk of further collapses. Despite this, public movement in the area continues, posing a serious threat of another major accident. Residents forced to shift to hotels Fearing for their safety, several residents have vacated their homes. Sheetal Modi, a resident of the Gebi Hanuman area, said that after a nearby house collapsed, she locked her home and shifted to a hotel. She added that her house’s foundation has been submerged in water for over a month, making it highly vulnerable to collapse. Repeated complaints, no action Local resident Aftab Sheikh claimed that he had warned the municipal corporation multiple times, but no action was taken. He alleged that it appears as though the administration is waiting for another house to collapse. Residents also pointed out that continuous excavation removed soil from the foundations, and stagnant water over the past month has worsened the situation. Project aimed at pilgrim convenience The road-widening project stretches about 1.5 km from VD Cloth Market to Chhoti Puliya. It involves removing portions of 568 houses and is being carried out at an estimated cost of ₹27 crore. The project is intended to improve facilities for devotees visiting during the Simhastha fair. Civic official admits ongoing risk Municipal Corporation Deputy Commissioner Santosh Tagore acknowledged that two to three houses are still at risk of collapsing. He said the situation is being assessed, but conditions at the site remain dangerous.