Kangra rivulets in spate

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, July 30

Heavy rain triggered a massive landslide at Nirwana, 8 km from here, late last evening. Many rivulets in Kangra district are in spate, though no loss of life or property has been reported so far.

Dharamsala falls in the active sliding zone. Illegal constructions, including near rivulets, have made the region disaster-prone.

A scientific study by Dr AK Mahajan of the Wadia Institute of Himachal Geology had put many zones in Dharamsala, including Tirah Lines, Barakoti, Kajlot, Jogiwara, Dhial, Gamru and Chohla, in the category of active sliding zones. All these areas are thickly populated and have multi-storey buildings.

The study states that Dharamsala town is located between two major thrusts. These tectonic thrusts have developed a number of splays that cause tectonic material in the area. Due to tectonic movement, rocks in Dharamsala are highly deformed, folded and fractured.

The fracturing of rocks and the presence of loose material coupled with high seepage lead to very high landslide hazard, says the study.

Sources said the district administration had failed to enforce a ban on constructions in active sliding zones in Dharamsala. The construction of hotels and resorts was being carried out rampantly.

The District Town and Country Planning Officer could not be contacted.

Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, Rakesh Prajapati said they were keeping a watch over the landslide in the Nirwana rivulet and the authorities had ordered the clearance of debris from it.