Shimla:
Panic gripped Chalonthi in the Sanjauli area after deep cracks suddenly appeared in four houses and the Sanjauli bypass PWD road that are located above the surface of the under-construction four-lane tunnel late in the night.
The tunnel is part of the Dhalli-Kathlighat section of the four-lane Shimla-Kalka National Highway being executed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
Residents were jolted awake by strange cracking. When they rushed out of their rooms, they saw wide fissures running across walls and floors.
Fearing that the structures might collapse any moment, as many 15 families of the house had no option but to vacate their homes immediately.
With barely any time to gather belongings, they stepped out into the freezing winter night. The mercury was below zero, but shock and fear overpowered everything else.
Wrapped in blankets and shawls, the families stood helpless on the roadside, staring at the homes they had built with their savings of lifetime.
“We spent every rupee we earned on this house. Now we are homeless overnight,” said a teary-eyed lady house owner. “What fault is ours? Why should we suffer for NHAI project?”
Another resident said this was the second time they were facing such trauma.
When the under-construction tunnel was inspected the portion of the tunnel had collapsed right under the houses that has raised serious questions on saftey of the houses.
“Last year, a house collapsed near Bhattakufar. Four houses were vacated then. Now it has reached our doorstep. Who will guarantee our safety?”
On receiving information, Kusumpti MLA and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh rushed to the spot along with local councillors, NHAI engineers and district administration officials. They inspected the damaged houses and interacted with the shaken families.
The minister assured them that they would be shifted to temporary shelters. However, the affected families expressed anger over the absence of immediate compensation.
“We don’t want empty promises. We want compensation right now and permanent resettlement at a safer place,” said one of the victims. “How long will we live in fear?”
Anirudh Singh said the district administration, along with NHAI officials, would conduct a detailed survey from Bhattakufar to Chalonthi and other project-affected areas. “This will help identify vulnerable houses in advance so disputes and damages can be resolved without delay,” he said.
He also said blasting work should be banned. “Cracks are appearing due to blasting. Strict instructions have been issued to stop it immediately,” the minister stated.
Not only houses, even the PWD Shimla-Dhalli bypass road has developed cracks due to the ongoing tunnelling work, raising serious safety concerns.
For the affected families, the pain is unbearable. “This house was our dream. We raised our children here. Now everything is in danger,” said a woman in anger.
As night descends again, fear looms large in Chalonthi — fear of more cracks, more collapses and more lives being pushed into darkness.
Will NHAI provide them with relief fit for their losses?
