Hill caves in near Mandi NH

Tribune News Service

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Mandi, December 29

A portion of a hill close to the National Highway-21 caved in near Rani-Ki-Bain here today.

Two houses were partially damaged in the landslide and dwellers were shifted to a safer location.

A contractor was engaged in removing soil from the hill for the four-laning of the Kiratpur-Nagchala stretch of the NH-21. The land owner said soil was being removed stepwise and the work was to be completed soon, but cracks appeared in the hill at 5am and a portion caved in.

Sadar SHO Chet Singh Bhangalia said half of the highway was obstructed, but it was soon restored and there was no restriction on the traffic movement.

Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Vivek Chandel said a team of revenue officials was sent to the spot for inspection. He added that shelter was being provided to the affected people.

A JCB machine of the contractor was also stuck in the landslide.

On getting information, a police team and officials of the district administration immediately reached the stop.

The SHO said a case had been registered under Sections 336, 341 and 427 of the IPC at the Sadar police station on the complaint of Krishan Chand, a resident of Chadyara village under the Sadar tehsil.

Chand said when contractor Jayoti Parkash was carrying out the construction work near Rani-Ki-Bain, a huge stone rolled down the hill and damaged his house and also obstructed the NH-21.

The SHO said the incident occurred due to the contractor’s negligence.