VISAKHAPATNAM | April 26, 2026 — A major infrastructure mishap occurred in the city on Sunday afternoon when a massive deck segment of an under-construction Railway Over Bridge (ROB) collapsed in the Vadlapudi area near Gajuwaka. The accident has left at least 10 workers injured and has triggered a high-level investigation into construction safety and material quality.
The Incident at Tungalam
The collapse took place around 3:30 PM at Tungalam, a key point on the bridge project designed to connect Auto Nagar and Duvvada. According to eyewitnesses, workers were engaged in “ducting” and concrete casting between the third and fourth pillars when the supporting structure suddenly gave way.
The heavy concrete deck crashed onto the ground with a thunderous sound, trapping several personnel beneath the twisted metal and debris. Local residents and fellow workers were the first to initiate rescue efforts before the Gajuwaka Police and emergency teams arrived at the scene.
Injuries and Medical Update
Initial reports confirm that 10 individuals sustained injuries. Seven of the workers are reported to have suffered serious fractures and head injuries. They were immediately rushed to nearby private hospitals, including KIMS, for emergency treatment.
Hospital sources stated this evening that while three of the workers remain under close observation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the rest are in stable condition. Fortunately, because the accident occurred on a Sunday afternoon, fewer workers were present on the deck than usual, likely preventing a higher casualty count.
Investigation and Safety Concerns
The Gajuwaka Police have registered a case and cordoned off the area to prevent further mishaps. “We are coordinating with the engineering departments to determine the exact cause of the failure,” a senior police official noted. “Our priority is the safety of the workers and ensuring the debris is cleared without further risk.”
Preliminary suspicions point toward a potential failure in the centering or scaffolding support used during the casting process. Local residents have expressed outrage, demanding a transparent audit of the construction materials used by the contracting agency.
Impact on the Duvvada-Auto Nagar Route
The Vadlapudi ROB is a critical infrastructure project intended to resolve chronic traffic congestion for thousands of commuters traveling toward the Duvvada Railway Station. Today’s collapse is expected to significantly delay the project’s completion, which was nearing its final stages of road connectivity.
Traffic in the Vadlapudi and Tungalam sectors has been diverted as authorities continue to inspect the integrity of the remaining pillars.
