Bengaluru: Commuters on National Highway 44 between Bengaluru and Hosur faced severe traffic congestion on Wednesday (February 4) after a sudden road collapse in the Attibele–Suryanagar stretch under the limits of Attibele and Suryanagar police stations. The cave-in occurred during peak traffic hours, disrupting one of the busiest inter-state corridors and reducing vehicle movement to a slow, single-lane crawl for several hours.
Officials said a portion of the highway surface gave way, creating a large depression that swallowed part of the carriageway and forced authorities to immediately restrict traffic flow. The stretch is widely used by daily office commuters, inter-city buses and heavy goods vehicles moving between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, making the disruption particularly severe.
Infrastructure work suspected behind collapse
Authorities have indicated that ongoing highway expansion and infrastructure works in the area may have contributed to the road failure. Preliminary field inputs point to weakened soil stability and continuous heavy machinery movement as possible factors behind the collapse.
Police from the Bengaluru Rural district reported that the damaged portion significantly narrowed the usable road width, resulting in kilometre-long queues of trucks, private vehicles and buses. Traffic movement slowed to a near standstill at several points, with motorists stranded for long durations.
Commuters reported delays, missed work schedules and mounting frustration as vehicles piled up on both sides of the affected stretch. Traffic police teams were deployed to regulate flow and prevent further risk near the damaged section.
Emergency repairs and traffic diversion
Highway and enforcement authorities mobilised emergency response measures soon after the collapse was detected. Teams from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) reached the spot with cranes, barricades and filling materials to stabilise the damaged portion and prevent further erosion.
Temporary barricading was installed around the collapsed section, and controlled one-way movement was introduced. Vehicles were allowed to pass in a regulated manner through the remaining safe portion of the road.
Police initiated diversions through nearby local roads to ease pressure on the highway. However, officials acknowledged that these alternate routes provided only limited relief due to their lower capacity and existing local traffic.
NHAI engineers began assessment and immediate patchwork restoration, stating that full structural repairs would be taken up on priority. Experts associated with highway maintenance cautioned that unless the base is reinforced properly, such stretches may remain vulnerable, especially ahead of heavy rains.
ORR and border traffic impact
Traffic congestion on the Bengaluru–Hosur corridor also had a cascading effect on connecting junctions and feeder roads, including stretches linking to the city’s Outer Ring Road network. Logistics operators reported delivery delays, and bus services were forced to reschedule arrivals and departures.
Officials advised commuters to plan buffer travel time and use alternative routes where feasible until permanent repairs are completed and certified safe for normal traffic volume.
Separate incident: Disabled Army veteran alleges toll harassment
In a separate incident that triggered widespread public reaction, a retired Special Forces commando and double-leg amputee from Kerala alleged harassment by staff at Sasthana toll plaza in Karnataka’s Kundapur area.
The veteran, identified as Shyamaraj (42), said he was stopped and denied toll exemption despite producing valid Government of India identity documents and an exemption pass. He is a former member of 21 Para (SF) and lost both legs during Operation Parakram, the 2001–02 military mobilisation following the Parliament attack.
According to his statement, toll staff allegedly refused to recognise his exemption eligibility and behaved insensitively when he attempted to explain his status.
Video goes viral, probe initiated
A video recorded by the veteran during the confrontation circulated widely on social media. In the clip, he is seen showing his documents and wheelchair while questioning why he was being denied toll-free passage that he claims is honoured at other toll plazas across the country.
He also made a public appeal seeking intervention from Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and called for accountability and sensitisation of toll staff regarding defence personnel exemptions.
Following the viral video, public outrage grew online, with many users demanding strict action, staff training and enforcement of exemption norms for disabled soldiers and decorated veterans.
Police confirmed that a complaint has been received and that an inquiry has been initiated into the incident. Officials said statements will be recorded and toll plaza procedures examined as part of the probe.
Conclusion
The highway collapse near Attibele has once again highlighted the risks associated with infrastructure works on high-density corridors and the need for stricter site safety and soil stability checks. Meanwhile, the toll plaza controversy has drawn attention to gaps in awareness and sensitivity toward disabled veterans. Authorities are now working on both fronts — restoring road safety and addressing accountability concerns.