A safety hazard on busy Bazullah Road

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A manhole cover jutting about five inches above road level has become an accident hazard on busy Bazullah Road in T Nagar, with motorists and two-wheeler riders at risk.

The danger became clear on Friday when a cyclist riding ahead of a car hit the raised cover, lost his balance and was thrown onto the road, landing in front of the car behind him. The driver slammed on the brakes in time, narrowly avoiding what could have been a serious accident.

The problem is the way the manhole cover has been fixed. Instead of being level with the road, it sticks out prominently, leaving cyclists and motorcyclists particularly vulnerable. Cars with good ground clearance may be able to pass over it without scraping their undersides, but that offers little comfort to those on two wheels.

“The new manhole cover is fixed in a dangerous manner. Last night, I saw a two-wheeler rider tripping over it. This will surely cause more accidents, especially during rains,” said a customer at the nearby Lakshmi Coffee.

The road had earlier been known for flooding before a new drainage link was built a few years ago. The raised manhole cover appears to have been installed after an old one was damaged.

For now, the poorly levelled cover remains an accident waiting to happen.

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