Shimla landslide damages apple boxes

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 20

Hundreds of apple boxes were buried under debris as a massive landslide hit the fruit mandi, Bhattakuffar, about 18 km from here, on the Shogi-Dhalli bypass today morning.

Shooting stones started hitting the roof of fruit market ringing alarm bells as the people present there ran for safety. Within minutes a heavy landslide occurred and back portion of mandi was buried under the debris. Luckily, there was no casualty.

“Stones started falling yesterday afternoon and the labourers shifted to safer places at night. Sliding continued but the major slide occurred around 9:30 am,” said aarthi (commission agent) Manish adding that the apple sold in past two days were stored in the fruit market. Around 6,000 to 7,000 boxes of apple were sold yesterday.

The mandi was packed with apple boxes in view of the apple season. The aarthis and growers whose stock was damaged in the landslide are demanding compensation. They have accused the administration of not taking timely step despite being aware of the situation.

Deputy Commissioner Shimla Amit Kashyap, who was there on the spot, said the mandi site was not safe as slide was continuing and the monsoon was active in the state. He said that alternative arrangements were being made to facilitate the growers and the aarthis and big aarthis had been told to operate from their godowns.

Some of the aarthis would be accommodated at Parala Mandi in upper Shimla. Further, the Dhalli vegetable market would be used as fruit market after 1 pm, he said adding that tehsilar had been asked to assess the loss due to damage and submit report.

Meanwhile, apple boxes are being shifted and the boxes buried in debris are being extracted. While the aarthis claimed that thousands of boxes have been damaged due to the landslide. The district administration said that the exact loss would be known only after detailed assessment was made.