Poor construction, weak foundation led to mishap

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, July 16

Weak foundation and substandard construction are the reasons for the collapse of an eatery building on the Kumarhatti-Nahan highway last evening which claimed the lives of 14 persons.

The area does not fall under the purview of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department. A visit to the area revealed that several 4 or 5-storey buildings have come up in the area.

Since a number of people have been demanding exclusion of their areas from the TCP purview to bypass the building regulations, the government has constituted a Cabinet sub-committee to identify areas in the vicinity of towns which could be excluded from the TCP regulations. The committee will submit its report within three months. The move follows resentment against building regulations imposed by the TCP Act.

One can see multi-storey buildings in areas where such norms are not applicable. This is despite the fact that the district is listed in the earthquake hazard zone-V which is seismically the most active region. Another under-construction building had collapsed in its vicinity a few years ago.

Erected on a curve with a steep gradient, more buildings in its vicinity are at risk if their foundations are not deep enough as the building that collapsed lacked depth and strength, said structural engineers. Since dhabas are not registered with the Tourism Department, the authorities had little control over it.

High-rises in high risk seismic zone

• A visit to the area reveals that several 4 or 5-storey buildings have come up in the area
• One can see multi-storey buildings in areas where such norms are not applicable
• This is despite the fact that the district is listed in the earthquake hazard zone-V which is seismically the most active region
• Another under-construction building had collapsed in its vicinity a few years ago but it has failed to act as an eye opener.