Built 3 years ago, Shamti bypass in Solan sinks after rain

A sizable portion of the 5.14-km Shamti bypass in Solan district has caved in at Sheothal village following relentless rain barely three years after it was constructed. Several houses located below the road have been endangered due to continuous subsidence. A house has been vacated as a precautionary measure.

Gaping potholes are visible on the road reflecting shoddy construction work. A part of the road has become inaccessible, forcing the police to depute men to divert traffic.

Conceived to decongest Solan, this arterial road, now poses a threat to residents due to rapid land subsidence. Cracks, which appeared on the road surface last week, are widening with each passing day, thus raising fear among residents of potential damage to their houses and arable land.

The Public Works Department (PWD) has initiated some repair work. Instead of undertaking temporary measures, concrete repair work will have to be undertaken after an in depth geo-technical investigation of the spot.

The work to construct a culvert has begun to channel rainwater. The measure, however, appears to be too little and too late as the road surface has suffered extensive damage. It also reflects the poor upkeep of drains as water is often seen flowing on the road, inflicting immense damage to its surface.

PWD officials were not available for comment despite making several calls. When quizzed, Manmohan Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Solan, said a request had been made to the director industries to undertake geological investigation of the area so as to ascertain the cause of land subsidence and suggest measures to contain perpetual damage.

Sunil, a local resident, termed it as a colossal disasterand ,said, “Durng the 2023 monsoon, houses on the hills above Shamti were damaged after soil erosion. Now, houses lying below these hills have been endangered, exposing the vulnerability of the area which appears to be sinking rapidly.”

In view of the imminent danger, the Revenue Department had then declared the eroded hill a red zone in 2023. The bypass was conceived to provide a shorter route to motorists travelling from neighbouring Sirmaur and Nauni after avoiding heavy traffic in Solan city.