Garhwal Post Bureau
Mussoorie, 5 Aug: The incessant rain in Mussoorie, is now proving to be life-threatening for residents. On Wednesday morning, a large section of the hillside suddenly collapsed onto the government quarters located within the Mussoorie SDM’s office complex. A massive boulder struck the stone wall of one of the quarters, causing significant damage to the structure. Employee Govind Singh Negi, his wife, and their young child were inside the room at the time of the incident. Fortunately, the entire family had a narrow escape, though his wife sustained minor injuries.
Eyewitness Govind Singh Negi recounted hearing a sudden, loud crash in the morning. Before the family could comprehend what was happening, a boulder that had broken off the hillside smashed through the stone wall and entered the room. Their bed was located just a short distance from where the boulder landed; had the boulder’s trajectory shifted even slightly, a major tragedy could have occurred. He noted that about five families reside in these old government quarters within the SDM office complex. While falling stones from the hillside are a common occurrence during the monsoon, this time a large section of the hill collapsed, putting the entire family’s lives in jeopardy.
Govind Singh Negi explained that these government quarters date back to the British era and have become quite dilapidated. A major disaster was averted this time thanks to the sturdy stone wall; had it been a standard brick wall, it might have collapsed entirely, leaving little chance for the family’s survival. He stated that the family is now in a state of shock and feels unsafe living in these quarters with a small child. The terrifying scene from the morning remains vivid in their minds.
The incident has been immediately reported to Mussoorie SDM Rahul Anand. Govind Singh stated that the SDM has assured a prompt site inspection and necessary action. He emphasised that the safety of employees is the administration’s top priority and that appropriate measures will be taken after assessing the situation.
Govind Singh Negi has urged the administration to reconstruct the dilapidated government quarters. He also called for scientific treatment of the unstable, cracked hillside located behind the quarters to prevent any recurrence of such incidents in the future. He warned that a major accident could occur at any time if safety measures are not implemented in a timely manner.
