Under-construction tunnel collapses near Shimla
Tribune News Service
Shimla, August 13
A massive landslide triggered by heavy rain led to the collapse of a portion of an under-construction tunnel on the Kaithalighat-Dhalli stretch of the Kalka-Shimla four-lane project near Shimla today. However, no loss of life was been reported in the incident.
The incident occurred in the Chalaunti locality near the state’s capital when a part of the mountain under which a tunnel was being constructed fell on its entry point, resulting in the collapse of the part of the tunnel where the construction work was in progress.
According to reports, debris had started falling at the site on Monday evening due to which workers and the machinery deployed for the construction work were removed from there and taken to a safer place.
A video of the incident went viral on social media platforms.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had recently completed the stabilisation work on the site. It was set to start the digging work for the construction of this 400-metre tunnel.
Project manager, NHAI, Achal Jindal said that the landslide had overwhelmed the tunnel before its construction work could be completed. He added that efforts were being made to reinforce the tunnel while that debris was being cleared and the area was being stabilised.
