A newly constructed bridge and road project in Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab, has collapsed just months after completion — shocking local residents and raising serious questions about construction quality and official oversight.
The Bara Bridge and Vador Road, built at a cost of Rs 130 million, gave way on June 4, 2026, after a minor water flow in the Vador Hill torrent — locally known as Rodh Kohi — triggered by rainfall the previous day on June 3.
What Was the Project For?
The project was designed to improve connectivity between Dera Ghazi Khan city and several nearby settlements including Bela, Vador Zai, Dilana, Rakh Bela, Wahi Kangrani and Kocha Wadani. Its sudden collapse has completely cut off the main route, causing serious hardship for thousands of residents who now struggle to travel for work, education and medical emergencies. Alternative routes are either unsafe or far too long to be practical.
Locals Had Warned About Poor Quality
What makes this incident even more troubling is that local residents had raised concerns about poor construction quality and substandard materials months before the collapse. Despite warnings from public representatives, no corrective action was taken by the authorities.
In the wake of the collapse, residents are now demanding a full and transparent investigation into alleged negligence, corruption and the use of substandard materials. They are calling for strict action against the contractor and responsible officials, as well as the immediate repair of the bridge to restore access to affected communities.
A Wider Problem
This incident once again highlights a deeply concerning pattern in Pakistan’s infrastructure development sector, where many projects fail shortly after completion due to weak oversight, poor quality control and lack of accountability.
The Punjab government has been urged to restore the route as quickly as possible and to ensure that all future infrastructure projects are built to proper engineering standards — so that public money is not wasted and lives are not put at risk.
