Broken roads, broken lives: Sudden rain brings good weather and ugly potholes​

An autorickshaw fell into a pothole at Makarba area of Ahmedabad. The road was developed by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation a few months ago. (Pic credit: PTI)

As monsoon clouds roll in, they bring happy showers but also a recurring nightmare for Indian commuters: potholes. Hidden beneath puddles, these craters in our roads become death traps, claiming lives silently and without warning. (Pic credit: ILN)

India is a country where road safety is already a fragile issue, potholes are an invisible enemy — one that thrives on neglect, poor infrastructure, and bureaucratic apathy. (Pic credit: IndiaTechGuide/X)

According to government statistics, 4808 lives were lost between 2020 - 2022, due to pothole-related accidents. (Pic credit: AskAnshul/X)

Roads are either poorly constructed, not maintained, or simply ignored until tragedy strikes. In many cities, repairs are haphazard, temporary patches that wash away with the next heavy shower. (Pic credit: ANI)

​​The problem becomes especially acute during the monsoon season. Visibility is low, traffic increases, and emergency response becomes harder. For daily commuters — students, delivery riders, office-goers, every puddle hides uncertainty. (Pic credit: TheNaveena/X)

​Potholes are not inevitable. They are not natural disasters. They are the result of human failure in planning, implementation, and accountability. Government must adopt durable construction methods, ensure regular inspections, and create transparent systems for citizens to report and track road conditions. (Pic credit: NHAI/X)