Jagdish Prakash Sharma and his brother Ravi Kant Sharma claim they had repeatedly warned authorities about the risks posed by excavation and hill-cutting activities being undertaken for the highway expansion. According to them, despite several representations to the administration and repeated appeals for preventive measures, their concerns went unaddressed.
The family said only a portion of the ancestral property belonging to their brother, Murari Lal, had initially been identified for acquisition under the project. Officials had allegedly assured the remaining family members that their houses would remain unaffected by the highway work. However, as excavation progressed in the area, cracks began appearing in the structures, raising fears about their stability.
Seeking intervention, Jagdish Prakash Sharma submitted an application to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Mandi, on April 29. In his representation, he highlighted the deteriorating condition of his house and warned that extensive excavation near the property had compromised its structural safety. He sought compensation and protective measures, citing provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
Sharma, who lives with his wife, stated in the application that the elderly couple had already shifted temporarily to their daughter’s residence because of the growing threat to their lives and property. He urged the administration to act before an irreversible tragedy occurred.
The brothers further alleged that they met the SDM in April and requested that excavation work be halted until the issue of compensation and safety was resolved. They claimed that while the administration assured them that a committee would assess the damage after the election process concluded, excavation activities continued uninterrupted.
Ironically, when the collapse occurred, Jagdish Prakash Sharma was in Delhi for his wife’s medical treatment. He said the incident destroyed furniture and household belongings and left part of the remaining structure hanging precariously. According to him, the building is now so unsafe that the family cannot even retrieve its possessions without risking their lives.
Responding to the allegations, NHAI Project Director Varun Chari stated that the affected houses were located outside the formally acquired Right of Way. However, he said a committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Mandi would assess the damage and determine compensation if the losses were found to be linked to the highway widening work.
Mandi Sadar SDM Rupinder Kaur said a joint inspection of the site would be conducted by the committee on June 6 to ascertain the causes behind the collapse and prepare a detailed report. Further action, she said, would be taken on the basis of the findings.
The incident has once again highlighted the delicate balance between development and public safety, with affected residents demanding accountability, timely compensation and stronger safeguards for communities living along major infrastructure corridors.
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