A massive road cave-in on the Vepagunta–Pinagadi highway in Visakhapatnam has rendered the critical corridor nearly impassable, with deep craters, persistent flooding, and absent safety barriers endangering thousands of daily commuters. The collapse, which escalated dramatically following Cyclone Montha’s heavy rainfall between October 25 and 28, 2025, originated from a minor pothole but rapidly expanded into a gaping cavity exceeding five meters in width near the Pinagadi petrol bunk. Local residents report that overflow from an adjacent pond, swollen beyond capacity, eroded the road base and triggered the structural failure, exposing systemic neglect spanning over seven years.

Residents have taken matters into their own hands by erecting makeshift barricades using stones, branches, and reflective tape to warn motorists, particularly during low-visibility hours. Rajesh, a long-term inhabitant of the area, detailed the progression: “A small depression existed for years, but Montha’s deluge transformed it into a cavernous pit within hours. Vehicles plunge unexpectedly, causing spinal injuries and near-fatal accidents.” He confirmed multiple incidents involving two-wheelers and light motor vehicles, with drivers sustaining fractures and whiplash. Despite daily passage by revenue officials and the local MLA, no substantive repair mobilisation has commenced despite ceremonial inaugurations announced months prior.

The adjacent Kotapadu-bound stretch compounds the crisis, with over half a kilometre submerged under knee-deep stagnant water originating from inundated agricultural fields and blocked drainage channels. Commuters, including schoolchildren and elderly pedestrians, wade through the floodwater, facing risks of vector-borne diseases and vehicular skidding. Naidu, a farmer whose crops were entirely destroyed, highlighted the absence of functional drains: “A natural channel once diverted runoff, but illegal encroachments covered it during road widening, directing all water onto the carriageway.” This infrastructural oversight has transformed routine rainfall into recurring inundation.

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Local businessman Satyam, operating a roadside eatery, emphasised the economic toll, noting reduced footfall and delivery delays due to inaccessible routes. “Flooding recurs every monsoon, yet authorities treat symptoms rather than causes,” he stated, advocating for comprehensive drainage restoration before surface repairs. Medical facilities in Mogalipuram report a surge in trauma cases linked to the stretch, with orthopaedists treating an average of eight road-related injuries weekly. The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation has acknowledged the grievance but cited pending budgetary approvals and land acquisition disputes as impediments to immediate action.

Public Works Department engineers conducted a site inspection on October 30, 2025, promising temporary gravel filling within 48 hours and a detailed restoration plan post-monsoon. However, residents demand accountability, including reinstatement of the original drainage alignment and installation of permanent safety railings. The Vepagunta–Pinagadi corridor, a vital artery connecting Visakhapatnam city to rural hinterlands, carries over 15,000 vehicles daily, making its prolonged disrepair a pressing public safety and economic concern requiring urgent governmental intervention.

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