Signboard Collapses on SUV During Dust Storm on Dwarka Expressway; Driver Injured, Traffic Disrupted | Video
GURGAON: A major accident was reported on Dwarka Expressway near Sector 113 on Friday evening after a heavy overhead signboard collapsed during a dust storm, crushing a moving SUV and injuring the driver. The incident led to a massive traffic jam along the Delhi-Gurgaon stretch.
The signage gantry, installed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), came crashing down around 7pm near Bajghera, directly onto a Kia Sonet travelling from Delhi to Gurgaon. The vehicle was severely damaged, though both occupants of the SUV escaped without major injuries.
“A strong dust storm dislodged the signage frame that was mounted above the entrance of the elevated section of the expressway. The signboard fell on the SUV in motion,” a Gurgaon traffic police official said. Emergency teams from both Delhi and Gurgaon, along with the NHAI maintenance crew, rushed to the spot to manage the situation.
A hydra crane was deployed to remove the mangled vehicle and the collapsed structure. The clearing operation lasted over an hour, and normal traffic flow resumed by 8:30pm.
NHAI officials confirmed the incident and said a probe is underway to ascertain the cause of the collapse. “The injured person was immediately attended to, and emergency response teams worked to clear the obstruction. The reasons behind the collapse are being investigated,” an NHAI spokesperson said.
The incident caused significant delays, with many commuters stranded for over 20 minutes. “The elevated stretch was closed, and only surface roads were operational—moving very slowly,” said a commuter stuck at the Delhi-Gurgaon border.
Residents have voiced serious concerns over the safety of infrastructure on the expressway, often touted as a world-class project. “There should be a thorough investigation. How can such a heavy metal structure just fall? Imagine the consequences if the vehicle had been speeding,” said Bhisham Kaushik, a resident of Imperial Gardens.
