Day after M.P. CM inaugurates village road; portion washed away in rain

Portions of a village road in Madhya Pradesh’s Seoni district got washed away in rain, just a day after it was inaugurated by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav during a government event on July 1.

According to officials and local reports, the road connecting Mohbarra and Sarasdol villages under Keolari tehsil area, built at a cost of ₹3.93 crore was among various development projects Mr. Yadav had virtually inaugurated during the ‘Dan Mahotsav’ event in Seoni. However, a portion of the concrete road and a small culvert over a drain, both newly constructed caved in amid rains in the region on July 2. 

Videos of the damaged portions have gone viral on the internet with locals alleging negligence on part of officials and the construction agency. 

Rajguru Chaubey, sub-divisional officer, Public Works Department (PWD) told The Hindu that the Culver was damaged due to washed up bushes getting stuck in the pipes and blocking the flow of water. 

“This jammed the passage of water. And there was no concrete wall protecting the duct pipes. So, due to water passage getting blocked and leakage from below the duct pipes amid heavy rains, there was pressure of water which damaged the road,” Mr. Chaubey said. 

Mr. Chaubey said that the road had been repaired and movement started, while a phase wall to protect the culvert is also being built now. 

He also said termed the incident a “natural disaster” and that no action had been taken against any officials.

“This was a natural disaster and there was heavy downpour that day. Usually wall is not made for such culverts but we are getting it made now,” he said. 

The Hindu also tried to reach Seoni District Collector and Keolari sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) but their mobile numbers were found to be switched off on Monday (July 6, 2026) evening. 

Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Umang Singhar slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government saying the incident “exposed layers of BJP’s corruption, commission-taking, and shoddy construction”.

“BJP government’s ‘development model’ washed away in just 24 hours! Chief Minister Mohan Yadav inaugurated a ₹3.93 crore road connecting Mohbarra to Sarasdol in Seoni district, but it washed away in the very first rain just 24 hours later. Now, orders for an investigation are being issued.But the public is asking, why investigation after the scam? Why wasn’t the quality checked first?” Mr. Singhar asked on X. 

“From the Prime Minister to the Chief Minister, it’s the same formula...cut the ribbon... get the photo op... run the ads... and when the road, bridge, or project collapses, set up an inquiry... and leave the public to the mercy of God. In BJP’s rule, there’s no development—just inaugurations,” the Congress leader said. 

Locals from the area also said that it was a busy road with people depending on it for connectivity and that their travel had been hampered due to the incident. 

“No vehicle is able to cross it at the moment and it’s even difficult for pedestrians to use this road right now. There is no road for us labourers and farmers to access our fields,” Pramila, a labourer, had told local reporters after the incident.