By Sunil Sonker
Mussoorie, 9 Jul: Excavation work for a hotel in Kaddukhal market—the gateway to the world-famous Siddha Maa Surkanda Dham near Mussoorie—has created a serious hazard. A landslide near the construction site caused a building to collapse suddenly, sparking panic in the area. However, thanks to the administration’s alertness, two restaurants, several kiosks, and labourers’ shanties located in the danger zone were evacuated in time, preventing any loss of human life or livestock.
According to locals, the ground had weakened due to continuous rain following deep hillside cutting for the hotel project. Debris and stones suddenly began to slide, damaging an old building nearby. The incident caused panic among residents and temporary chaos in the market. Upon receiving the information, teams from the administration and relevant departments arrived at the site to inspect the area. Surveillance in the vulnerable zone has been stepped up for safety reasons, and the administration has advised people to stay away from the damaged area. Local traders and villagers argue that safety standards must be strictly enforced during the rapid construction taking place in Kaddukhal, a hub for religious tourism. They allege that indiscriminate hillside cutting could invite major disasters in the future and have demanded a technical investigation into the construction work, along with action against those found responsible. This incident, occurring amidst continuous rainfall, has once again raised questions regarding the quality and safety standards of construction activities in mountainous regions. Locals state that a major tragedy could have occurred had the area not been evacuated in time. The administration is keeping a close watch on the matter and continuously monitoring the situation.
