Dust storm: Signboard crushes SUV on Dwarka expressway, driver injured

GURGAON: A heavy overhead direction signage came crashing down on a moving car during a dust storm near Sector 113 on Dwarka Expressway injuring the driver and causing a heavy traffic snarl on Friday evening.
The heavy metal structure, installed by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), collapsed onto a Kia Sonet near Bajghera leaving the SUV mangled. A highway authority official said it would investigate the incident, adding, "Traffic has since been restored."
A Gurgaon traffic police official said, "The incident occurred around 7pm when strong winds during the storm dislodged the signage frame mounted above the entrance of the elevated section of the expressway. The signage came crashing down on an SUV travelling from Delhi towards Gurgaon. There were two people travelling in the Kia Sonet, but no major injuries were reported."
Traffic police from both Delhi and Gurgaon, along with the maintenance team of the NHAI, reached the spot to manage the situation. A hydra crane was called in to remove the damaged vehicle and collapsed signage structure. The operation took over an hour and normal traffic movement resumed around 8.30pm.
Officials of NHAI said minor injury to a person and the car was reported, which was "immediately attended". Emergency response teams were deployed and the gantry was removed from the expressway using cranes. "Amid severe storm conditions in the Delhi-NCR region, a gantry located on the Dwarka Expressway in Gurgaon collapsed today, impacting a vehicle in transit. The reasons for the collapse are currently being investigated. Further updates will be shared as the investigation progresses." Several commuters said they were stuck for nearly 20 minutes at the Delhi-Gurgaon border due to the blockage. "The elevated stretch was closed and only surface road traffic was moving, that too very slowly," a commuter caught in the jam said.
Residents have raised serious concerns over the safety of infrastructure on the expressway, which is touted as a ‘world-class' project. "There needs to be a proper investigation. How can a massive metal structure collapse like this? Imagine if the car was at high speed—kya hota?" asked Bhisham Kaushik, a resident of Imperial Gardens.
Meanwhile, several incidents of trees and branches falling were reported across various parts of the city. At Sheetla Mata Road near Sector 4/5, a large tree fell and was cleared by traffic police. Similar actions were taken on Sector 31 service road of NH8 from Delhi to Jaipur and on the service road near Signature Tower.