Cracks render Sadhupul market unsafe

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, August 14

With huge cracks appearing in the Sadhupul bazaar, 25 shops and 20 houses have been rendered unsafe for habitation.

A swift movement of earth leading to cracks was visible from the bottom of the river and nearly 150 metres upwards below the main road. The officials as well as the local pradhan had noticed small cracks on the road soon after the approach road leading to the bridge had collapsed following torrential rains on Monday. The small cracks, however, developed into large visible crevices which were threatening to erode the road where these shops and houses were located. Terming the situation worrisome, SDM Kandaghat, Dr Sanjeev Saini, said they had inspected the site along with PWD officials. Since the cracks had developed on a stretch of about 150 m and they were still widening, the inhabitants of the nearby shops and houses have been issued an advisory to vacate their premises and shift to a safer place.

He informed that a team of geologists from Chandigarh had been requisitioned to visit the spot and suggest ways to plug the cracks as it was threatening the habitation.

PWD staff was engaged in repairing the approach road during the day and efforts were afoot to open the bridge for traffic in a day or two. Executive Engineer, PWD, Kulbir Thakur, said they were endeavouring to open the bridge for light traffic in single lane in a day or two so that the locals did not face hardships after being cut off from the rest of the area. The gaping crevices have become a cause of concern and what was even more worrisome was the fact that the river after changing its course was eroding the earth below the road.