Ludhiana, Aug. 29 -- Traffic chaos and panic gripped Ludhiana on Thursday afternoon after a portion of the busy Old GT Road near the railway station caved in, exposing commuters and shopkeepers to serious risk on one of the city's most crucial stretches. The damaged portion was quickly barricaded, and municipal corporation (MC) teams were deployed to begin emergency response.

Preliminary inspection by the operations and maintenance cell revealed that the collapse of a sewer manhole wall likely caused the road to sink.

Civic body officials said that the exact cause of the cave-in was still being investigated, though they suspect rodents may have contributed to weakening the structure. The area is known for its rodent population, and larg...