Key Facts
A landslide occurred on Friday afternoon on the Bhattakufar-Chamiyana road in Shimla, endangering several houses in the Mathu Ram Sanjay Van Colony area. The incident happened due to excavation work for road widening on a 700-meter stretch of the Super Speciality Hospital Chamiyana road, exacerbated by two days of continuous rain.
Details of the Incident
Around 1 PM on Friday, a deodar tree along with debris slid down the hillside, coming dangerously close to the roof of Prem Machhan's house located on the opposite side of the road. The weight of the debris caused power lines and service wires to sag, raising the risk of electrocution and further damage. The debris also blocked the road, disrupting traffic and raising fears of more landslides.
Impact on Residents
Local residents are living in fear of loss of life and property. Kusum Lata stated, "The Public Works Department should have completed this work before the rains. During monsoon, cutting poses a risk of landslides and loss of life and property. The department should immediately stop this work and first build a breast wall (danga) on the hillside." Amit Kanwar reported that water pipes have broken due to the landslide. Deepika Thakur said, "This landslide happening in the rain has ruined our sleep. There is always a fear of accident." Madan demanded that the electricity board shift power lines from the cutting area as soon as possible. Rohit Chauhan held the Public Works Department, Electricity Department, and Water Power Department responsible for the public's trouble.
Authorities' Response
Chamiyana Panchayat president Leela Verma and vice president Ratna Thakur visited the site and demanded that the Public Works Department, Water Power Department, and Forest Department immediately stop the road widening work. Following the incident, the electricity department cut power supply, and the forest department cut the dangerous tree along with two others. Traffic has been restored.
Naveen Kaundal, Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department, said, "Considering the continuous rain for two days, the Public Works Department has temporarily stopped the cutting and road widening work. To keep this hospital road open 24 hours, two JCBs, one robot and one tipper have been deployed on site. The trees have been cut and removed. Once the weather clears, a breast wall will be constructed."
What Residents Should Know
- The road remains open with heavy machinery on standby for immediate clearance.
- Residents are advised to stay alert and report any further slope instability to local authorities.
- The Public Works Department has assured that breast wall construction will begin after the monsoon subsides.
FAQ
What caused the landslide on Bhattakufar-Chamiyana road?
The landslide was triggered by excavation work for road widening combined with continuous rainfall for two days.
Which areas are affected?
The landslide occurred near Mathu Ram Sanjay Van Colony, affecting houses below the road, including Prem Machhan's house.
What action has been taken by authorities?
The Public Works Department has temporarily stopped cutting and widening work. Two JCBs, one robot, and one tipper are deployed to keep the hospital road open. Trees have been cut and removed, and a breast wall will be constructed once weather clears.
What are residents demanding?
Residents demand an immediate halt to excavation, shifting of power lines, and construction of a breast wall before any further work.