Shimla, July 1,
A building collapse in Bhattakuffer near Shimla has triggered turmoil, with a Himachal cabinet minister now facing a police complaint and an request for enquiry by Chief secretary of the state, over the alleged assault of a National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officers. The incident occurred amid allegedly growing public anger over the ongoing Shimla Bypass (four-lane) project, which locals blame for endangering residential areas.
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The sequence began on June 30, when heavy rains overnight led to the collapse of a five-storey vacant building in Mathu Colony near Sanjay Van. The house, belonging to Rajna Chauhan (wife of late Rajesh Kumar), was completely destroyed. Several neighboring homes — owned by Lekh Ram Kondal, Thani Ram Chauhan, Brij Lal, Anil Kumar, Yogesh Kumar, and Arun Verma — developed large cracks and were evacuated as a precaution.
Local police from Dhalli, Tehsildar Bhishma Kanwar, and the Deputy Pradhan of Chamiyana Panchayat rushed to the spot. Authorities acknowledged that the situation could worsen if excavation and construction continued unchecked. Residents alleged that despite multiple warnings, no preventive action was taken by the company involved in highway construction.
The collapse and its fallout triggered a tense visit by NHAI officials to the site later same day. During the inspection, a confrontation reportedly broke out between NHAI officers and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, who was accompanied by supporters. According to official sources, the exchange escalated into a physical altercation.
In a strongly worded letter to the Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh, National Highway authorities of India Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav, condemned the attack and warned that such incidents demoralize field engineers and could delay the execution of critical infrastructure. Himachal currently has 17 National Highway projects underway, worth ₹23,729 crore.
The letter states, “Such an event not only raises questions on the deficiencies in the law-and-order system of the state, but also hampers the morale of the officers of NHAI working at field level.” It calls for a detailed enquiry into the incident and seeks appropriate legal action against those responsible to ensure the protection and morale of officers working on critical infrastructure projects.
However, resonating with locals, the Himachal Kisan Sabha also weighed in, blaming the Gawar Construction Company for endangering lives through reckless excavation and blasting. State President Dr. Kuldeep Singh Tanwar called for an immediate halt to construction work during the monsoon and demanded compensation for those whose homes were damaged or destroyed. He urged the government to review the company’s track record, stating that its operations have often led to hardships for local communities.
Locals continue to hold both the administration and the construction agency accountable, alleging negligence and a lack of coordination in protecting residential settlements near the highway zone.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Jairam Thakur has demanded the dismissal of Minister Anirudh Singh, calling the incident a breakdown of institutional integrity. The episode has brought into sharp focus the risks posed by poorly regulated infrastructure projects and the vulnerability of field officers amid political tensions.
An official inquiry into both the building collapse and the alleged assault has been ordered wherein more is likely to unfold in day to come.
