The heavy downpour in isolated parts of the Saurashtra and Kutch regions of Gujarat has caused havoc, disrupting the lives of thousands. The incessant rain has led to flooding and severe damage to infrastructure. A video showing a road collapsing due to the floods is going viral on the internet. At a time when everyone should be standing together in support and showing solidarity with the people of Gujarat, opposition politicians and their IT cells are busy taking potshots at the state government.
Rabid Islamist and Co-founder of Alt News Mohammad Zubair shared a video and claimed, ‘Quality of roads in the Model State of India.’
Quality of roads in the Model State of India. #Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/KXQSK9Lv5b
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) August 30, 2024
Gems of Engineering stated, ‘Corruption? This road goes up to the Statue of Unity. Gujarat: This 19 km long road was constructed in May 2024 at a cost of ₹70 crore & the contract was given to Shivam Construction of Vadodara.’
Corruption?
— Gems of Engineering (@gemsofbabus_) August 30, 2024
This road goes up to the Statue of Unity..
Gujarat: This 19 km long road was constructed in May 2024 at a cost of ₹70 crore & the contract was given to Shivam Construction of Vadodara. pic.twitter.com/NCskuyMbSw
Selection Commission of India tweeted, PM Modi’s ‘Gujarat’ becomes the 1st state to use “Mattress Roads” technology worth 70 crores. Some anti-Modi people are calling it corruption!’
PM Modi's 'Gujarat' becomes the 1st state to use "Mattress Roads" technology worth 70 crores.
— Selection Commission Of India (Commentary) (@ECISLEEPS) August 30, 2024
Some anti Modi people are calling it corruption! pic.twitter.com/TCSxqEdKR4
Islam wrote, ‘Pakistan, India and Bangladesh would never step in the developed countries, corruption is the part of their blood. Quality of roads in the Model State of India.’
Pakistan, India and Bangladesh would never step in the developed countries, corruption is the part of their blood.
— Islam (@IslamAQFJ) August 30, 2024
Quality of roads in the Model State of India. #Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/eSRSIhRI2I
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Fact Check
We began our fact-checking process by performing a reverse image search on a keyframe from the viral video. The search revealed that the collapsed road leads to the Statue of Unity in Vadodara, and the collapse was caused by heavy rainfall. Vadodara, the worst-hit city due to the recent downpour, experienced some relief as the water level of the Vishwamitri River dropped from 37 feet to 32 feet in the morning. However, several low-lying areas remain flooded. The river had crossed the danger mark of 25 feet on August 27, 2024 following heavy rains with the release of water from the Ajwa Dam.
Furthermore, we looked into the thin layer of road being removed from the road in the viral video after determining what caused the infrastructure damage in the Vadodara region. This black sheet, called geotextile, aims to improve the soil’s resilience and strength beneath roads. For example, sand and geotextile fabric can be mixed to evenly distribute the weight, preventing rutting and maintaining the stability and smoothness of the road.Â
According to Khator Technical Textiles website, geotextiles have shown to be an affordable and environmentally friendly way to deal with difficulties that arise during road construction. These adaptable materials, which are composed of synthetic polymers, have several advantages that extend the useful lifespan of roadways, it reduces maintenance cost and construction time, it is cost effective, environment friendly and improve safety.
We also found another website, Ocean Global, which highlights the benefits of using geotextiles in road construction. ‘Geotextile are large sheets that conserve our earth’s soil on rainy days & tie strongly. It is principally used for filtration and separation in road constructions. It preserves from the migration of small gravels & sand aggregates. Geotextiles are generally utilized in road construction, particularly to fill gaps between the roads to upgrade soil structure. Geotextile makes low-grade soil more advantageous for use and then simple to build in difficult locations as well. Geotextile are perfect materials used for Construction & infrastructure such as roads, buildings, dams, and many more.
The website explains that geotextiles are typically made from either polypropylene or polyester. Polypropylene is lightweight, strong, and durable, while polyester is heavier but equally strong and suitable for most soil conditions.
Conclusion: Mohammad Zubair’s claim that removing the thin layer indicates poorly constructed roads is incorrect. As reported above, the removed thin layer is geotextile used on the road. The viral video shows the road in a state of destruction after flood and heavy rain.
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