Construction firm, NHAI booked on building owner’s complaint

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Gawar Construction Company have been booked for negligence in construction work being carried out at Bhattakuffer in Shimla, a day after a five-storey building collapsed in the area. People accused both NHAI and the construction company for the incident.

Ranjana Verma, whose building had collapsed at Bhattakuffer on Monday, alleged in a complaint that her house had developed cracks on June 29 due to the ongoing construction work for a four-lane highway project. She claimed that she had repeatedly warned NHAI and company officials over the past year about the structural risk to her house but no effective action was taken. The construction was briefly halted for four months following her earlier complaint, but later resumed with continued excavation work near her property.

Ranjana claimed she had also informed the panchayat pradhan about the renewed threat four days ago and company representatives had visited the site and assured her that no further digging would take place near her home.

She alleged that the work continued till late night with heavy machinery operating as late as 9 pm on June 29. As a result, the entire building collapsed. She said that neighbouring houses belonging to Lekh Ram Kaundal, Brij Lal, Arun/ Ankush Thakur, Chaitanya, and Yogesh are also endangered due to the ongoing construction. The police have registered a case and stared an investigation.

Himachal Tribune