Under-construction building collapses on Dharampur-Kanda road

Ambika Sharma

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Solan, January 19

An under-construction double-storey building located on the Dharampur-Kanda road caved in after mounds of muck fell on it from an excavated hill in the wee hours today. However, there was no loss of life, as no labourer was working there when the mishap took place.

“A landowner had excavated a sizeable section of the hill to pave the way to an adjoining plot. Incessant rain in the area in the past few days triggered a massive landslide. Water seepage had loosened the soil and large chunks of debris fell on the under-construction building,” said Vipin, a local resident.

The massive debris damaged the beams of under-construction building, which gave way. A hotel atop the hill on the Dharampur-Sanawar road has also become vulnerable to damage as a sizeable portion of the hill has eroded. This hotel had caved in several years ago, too, and was reconstructed.

Kamlesh Kumari, pradhan of Gulhari gram panchayat, took stock of the situation and said, “A two-storey building was being raised at the affected site in Ward number 3. Two houses located in its vicinity have developed cracks and become vulnerable. A hotel, where some repair work is underway, has also developed cracks”.

Kamlesh urged the local administration to take effective steps to ensure the safety of buildings in the vicinity of the collapsed building.