Newly Opened Herat Underpass Flooded After First Rainfall, Blocking Traffic
The newly inaugurated underpass in the center of Herat province, which was opened a few days ago by the Taliban administration, was completely flooded and traffic halted following the first rainfall. Videos shared on social media show surface water rushing forcefully into the underpass, turning it into a large waterfall.
According to local residents and several young people of Herat, the project had just been officially opened; however, with the onset of the first rain, its ineffectiveness became clear as the passage was blocked before the eyes of the public. The footage reveals a substantial volume of water pouring from the upper road surface down into the lower section, making vehicle passage impossible.
Civil activists in Herat state that the project’s opening was rushed and mostly symbolic, without sufficient attention to essential construction quality standards. They emphasize that, especially in underground projects within urban areas, comprehensive assessments of potential risks, including surface water management and flood control, are non-negotiable technical principles.
These citizens believe that necessary measures to manage water and prevent its accumulation were not considered in this project, leading to a waste of public resources. They urge the Taliban administration to conduct thorough technical and engineering studies with full responsibility before initiating and inaugurating such projects, to prevent public funds from being spent on ineffective infrastructure.
