Homes on Shaky Ground: GSI team reaches Bhattakufar in Shimla
A team of experts from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has arrived in Shimla, stepping into a situation fraught with fear and uncertainty. Their mission: to determine why the ground gave way at Bhattakufar Chowk, collapsing a portion of the road above an under-construction tunnel.
The arrival of the GSI team on Friday evening offers a glimmer of hope for anxious residents. After a formal request from the local administration, the scientists began their preliminary inspection and are scheduled for a detailed, joint investigation with district officials on Saturday morning.
A Community on Edge
The technical investigation unfolds against a backdrop of growing alarm for those living along the tunnel’s path. Conflicting explanations from authorities have done little to ease their worries. Adding to the tension, local geologists report finding traces of tunnel excavation muck inside the newly formed cavity—a detail that has fueled suspicions that the tunnelling below is directly linked to the sinking ground above.
“If this collapse is connected to the tunnel, then the entire slope is at risk,” voiced one concerned local, capturing a sentiment shared by many. The hillside supports not just homes and businesses, but a vital road link. Several families are now demanding that all restoration work be halted until a clear, scientific cause is established.
A Clash of Solutions and Concerns
While residents call for caution, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has proposed a swift solution: fill the cavity with reinforced concrete to stabilize the area. The agency maintains it has the necessary environmental approvals and that its own inspections have found no cracks directly above the tunnel.
This proposal, however, has been met with sharp criticism.
“Filling the cavity without first understanding if the tunnelling has loosened the hill is like putting a bandage on a wound without diagnosing the cause,” said Dr. Kuldeep Singh Tanwar, president of the Himachal Pradesh Kisan Sabha. “It could endanger safety and bury crucial evidence. People are living in fear, and they deserve transparency.”
The Search for Truth
All eyes are now on the GSI’s investigation. Their findings will be critical in answering the central, unsettling question: was this collapse a natural geological event, or was it triggered by the massive four-lane project carving its way through the hills?
The answer will determine the next steps—not just for repairs, but for accountability, safety measures, and the future of the tunnel itself. For the residents of Shimla, waiting for that answer feels like an eternity, perched on a slope that no longer feels secure. More news is awaited on this developing story.
