Missing drain covers on footpaths risk imminent danger in Dwarka

Dwarka: With the open manholes and missing drain covers, footpaths have become risky for pedestrians in Dwarka. The covers are dangerously missing causing trouble to the pedestrians. This can be witnessed on main footpaths along with the master plan roads.

Sectors like 3, 4, 5, 1, 12, 13, 14 and 16 are the worst when it comes to missing drain covers on footpaths.

Incidents of pedestrians getting injured due to such missing drain covers are rampant in the city. Three years back, wife of JC Malhotra, a senior citizen and resident of Welcome CGHS (Cooperative Group Housing Society), got badly hurt after falling into the drain. 

In September 2019, JC Malhotra, who is an octogenarian, himself somehow narrowly escaped a fall due to missing cover of drain on the footpath near National Apartments in Sector 3. He then started a campaign by writing to the authorities and talking to the area Councillor, MLA etc. 

But his efforts went in vain as the authorities only fixed the particular spot. The authorities did not bother to take care of the other spots in sub-city.

Now, he is disappointed as there are hundreds of other such places over the drain where the covers are still missing and people are in danger using the footpaths. 

He said, “If you fall into it then it can cause fatality. I am a sufferer as my wife was on bed for a long time due to injury after falling in the drain. Despite my campaign, they did nothing and now I am feeling very sad as a senior citizen. What do they want and who would be responsible if any big incident happens?”

The photograph used in the story is of the footpath near the signals of sector 3/4/12/13. One could imagine the gravity of the subject as the drain is about 10 feet deep and pedestrians use the footpath crossing the gap.

Residents, mainly senior citizens said that the footpaths were converted into death traps and the civic bodies were not concerned. They said that now because of open manholes and missing covers on the footpaths over the deep drain, they were compelled to walk on the main road.