Viral Video Prompts Action: NHAI Suspends Two Officials Over Expressway Cave-In

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken disciplinary action after a section of the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway caved in following heavy rainfall, even as it attributed the incident to localized water stagnation and delays in drainage commissioning.

A video of the incident, which occurred on July 1, 2026 , went viral, showing a portion of the road surface giving way on the Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor . NHAI said the affected stretch has since been restored and reopened for traffic .

In a statement, the authority said the cave-in was caused by rain-induced water accumulation and constraints in operationalising the permanent cross-drainage system at the site. It further claimed the system could not be commissioned due to resistance from local residents , who allegedly did not permit integration of a balancing culvert and instead used the opening as a vehicular crossing.

Taking serious note of the incident, NHAI issued show-cause notices to the project director, authority engineer, and EPC contractor. It also suspended the team leader of the authority engineer and the project manager of the contractor for lapses.

The authority added that an interim drainage arrangement is being constructed to ensure safe rainwater discharge until the permanent system becomes operational, and the site is under continuous monitoring .

The 213-km six-lane access-controlled corridor , built at a cost of over ₹12,000 crore , was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14, 2026 , reducing travel time between Delhi and Dehradun to around two-and-a-half hours.