Shimla DC Cracks the Whip: Orders NHAI Contractor to Pay ₹5.61 Crore Compensation for House Collapse in Bhattakufar
Shimla | July 30, 2025
In a no-nonsense move, Deputy Commissioner Shimla, Anupam Kashyap, has directed the contractor working under the NHAI's four-lane highway project to cough up a compensation amount of ₹5.61 crore to a family whose multi-storey home collapsed due to reckless hill-cutting in Bhattakufar.
The directive comes after a high-level inquiry panel, headed by ADM (Law & Order) Pankaj Sharma, submitted its report holding the construction activity responsible for the June 30 incident.
The report concluded that aggressive excavation for the four-lane road led to a landslide that flattened the home of Shreya, Shaurya, and Ranjana in Mathu Colony.
The committee pegged the total loss at ₹2.80 crore, which includes ₹57.40 lakh for land, ₹1.65 crore for the building’s structure, and ₹58.38 lakh for other household damages.
The remaining amount accounts for full compensation as per provisions of the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, including 100% solatium under Section 30.
Calling the incident a direct fallout of negligence, DC Kashyap has instructed that the compensation be released without any delay and the district administration be immediately informed of compliance.
He asserted that the affected family must not be made to suffer further due to bureaucratic red tape.
> "Given the massive loss and emotional trauma faced by the victims, compensation must be disbursed on a war footing. Any delay will not be tolerated," Kashyap said.
The DC’s strong-worded order sends a clear message to construction companies executing infrastructure projects in the hills: cut corners, and you’ll pay the price.
The administration has emphasized that timely compensation is not just about financial redress but about upholding the rights and dignity of affected citizens.
This case has now become a litmus test for how seriously authorities hold contractors accountable for collateral damage during large-scale infrastructure projects in fragile Himalayan zones.
#AccountabilityFirst #NHAIUnderFire #ShimlaDCAction #BhattakufarCollapse
