Bhattakufar road cave-in: NHAI issues clarification, says incident unrelated to four-lane project
Shimla, Nov 22,
Amid escalating public anger over Saturday’s road collapse at Bhattakufar Chowk, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Saturday issued a strong clarification distancing the ongoing Kaithlighat–Shimla four-laning project from the incident. A video circulating online since morning shows a pit that suddenly formed on the existing Shimla Bypass (NH-05), causing an HRTC bus to sink from the front and leading to a schoolgirl falling into the cavity. NHAI, in a detailed statement, said, “It is being alleged that the ongoing four-laning work undertaken by NHAI is responsible for this unfortunate incident. This is incorrect and the incident has no connection with the four-laning works of the Shimla Bypass being executed by NHAI.” The agency further clarified that the particular stretch of the old bypass where the ground subsided is maintained by the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (HPPWD) on behalf of NHAI. “As a proactive measure, NHAI has already offered all necessary tools, equipment, and materials to HPPWD to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the general public,” the statement said.
The clarification comes even as the district administration halted all construction on the Kaithlighat–Shimla four-lane project after the collapse, terming the situation unprecedented and potentially dangerous. Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap, who inspected the site with SSP Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, said the administration was taking the matter seriously from a safety standpoint. He confirmed that tunnelling activity for the four-lane is underway in the area and directed the Additional District Magistrate (Law and Order) and the Additional Superintendent of Police to prepare a comprehensive report examining whether there was any link between the tunnelling and the subsidence. The administration has written to the State Disaster Management Authority warning of a possible disaster, and the DC also inspected cracks reported by residents in nearby houses. Technical details are being compiled for submission to the Survey of India.
Tension at Bhattakufar remained high through the day, with around 50–60 residents and shopkeepers refusing to allow the accident-hit HRTC bus to be removed, insisting it would stay in place until NHAI officials visited and acknowledged responsibility for the damage. Shopkeepers shut their establishments in protest and warned that they may block the road if officials did not meet them. ADM Pankaj Sharma later reached the spot and assured locals that their grievances regarding house damage would be taken up in a meeting with NHAI officials scheduled for Tuesday. Following this assurance, residents temporarily paused their protest but maintained that the bus would not be moved until NHAI authorities arrived. The administration has asserted that public safety cannot be compromised and has ordered the suspension of all four-lane construction activities in the area until further notice.
With NHAI denying any link to the collapse and the administration probing possible tunnelling-related impact, the incident has triggered a new round of questions on safety practices, accountability, and coordination on one of the state’s most critical highway projects.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
