GSI team probes Bhattakufar road collapse amid rising safety concerns

A Geological Survey of India (GSI) team on Saturday inspected the Bhattakufar site in Shimla, where a section of road subsided last week, to determine the exact cause of the incident. The team arrived on the request of the district administration and carried out a detailed assessment. A report of their findings will soon be submitted to aid further corrective measures.

The inspection follows last week’s incident in which a portion of the road suddenly caved in, creating a large pit and causing panic among residents. A schoolgirl fell into the pit while boarding her bus and one of the bus’s front tyres also got stuck. Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap, along with other officials, promptly reached the spot to assess the situation.

Local residents alleged that the collapse was linked to tunnel construction underway for the Kaithlighat-Dhalli four-lane project, a claim denied by the NHAI. However, as a precaution, the district administration ordered an immediate halt to all excavation, blasting and related activities on the under-construction twin-tube tunnel.

The move came after a preliminary inspection by the Geological Wing, which noted a large depression on the Mehli-Dhalli road, visible cracks in the rock mass, continuous seepage, exposed utilities and structural damage to several nearby houses. The report also pointed out that the tunnel alignment runs directly beneath the affected area and the possibility of excavation-related impact cannot be ruled out.

The Geological Wing recommended a detailed geotechnical and geophysical study by a specialised agency such as the GSI. Acting on this, the administration invited the GSI team to carry out a comprehensive investigation. Additionally, the blasting licence issued to the company executing the four-lane project has been temporarily withdrawn until further notice.