106-year-old police station on verge of collapse, officers risking lives in Palampur

The 106-year-old Palampur police station building is on the brink of collapse, forcing more than 20 police personnel to risk their lives while working in unsafe conditions — especially during the ongoing monsoon. Despite being fully aware of the situation, the state government has made no effort over the decades to either repair the structure or construct a new building. Many fear that authorities are waiting for a tragedy before taking action.

Constructed by the British in 1919, shortly after the devastating Kangra earthquake of 1905, the police station was built using mud-missionary techniques without cement. In all these years, not a single brick has been added. A few years ago, the government declared it a heritage property, staying its demolition — but without allocating funds for its upkeep. Since then, the building’s condition has deteriorated drastically.

Experts have already declared the structure unsafe and recommended its dismantling. Major cracks run across internal and external walls, while the dormitory roofs have gaping holes. The storeroom has already collapsed, leaving seized and recovered items lying exposed on the premises. The additional SHO’s office is no longer usable, with leaking roofs and damp walls.

The neglect has also damaged records, with old files eaten away by insects due to dampness from constant leaks during the rains. The SHO’s residence, built alongside the police station in 1919, is also on the verge of collapse — raising fears that even a minor earthquake could reduce both buildings to rubble.

Significantly, the Palampur police station is among the most important in the district, responsible for the safety and security of more than one lakh residents. Yet, repeated proposals sent by the Kangra Superintendent of Police to the government over the past decade for constructing a new building have gone unanswered, with no funds released.

With its worsening state, both public safety and the lives of police personnel remain at stake — making immediate government intervention a pressing necessity.