Shooting boulders pose imminent threat to people using border roads, two from Rajasthan killed

Shooting boulders pose imminent threat to people using border roads, two from Rajasthan killed
B.D.Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, June 13

Heavy boulders on the steep mountainous peaks on the sides of border  roads connecting lower valleys with border with China and religious places like  ‘Adi Kailash’ and ‘Panchachuli’ base camp  are gradually becoming dangerous for vehicles plying on these roads as sudden landslides accompanied by heavy boulders, due to rains or earthquakes, are occurring frequently.

In an accident at Pangbave, in Darma valley two persons were killed and four others from Rajasthan were injured wjen a heavy boulder hit their vehicle two days ago.

“Despite connection of border roads to Darma and Vyans valleys from 2018 and 2020 respectively, nothing has been done to remove these boulders from their mountain slopes after road construction to these higher Himalayan region, ” said Shalu Datal, a local resident of Darma valley presently residing in Dharchula.

” Despite been most sensitive location for boulder shooting, no treatment measures has been done  at the place to remove these boulders,” said Datal.

Pithoragarh District Magistrate Ashish Bhatgai, in pre monsoon preparation meeting has instructed concerned departments to treat the locations on all roads of district, where the slides and boulder shooting during monsoon could occured.”Pangawe is most sensitive points from boulder shooting points of view on which the district magistrate has instructed the Border Roads Organisation ( BRO),” said Bhupendra Singh Mahar, District Disaster Management Officer, Pithoragarh.

According to DDMO, another sensitive point from landslides and boulder shooting  is, Garbadhar, on ‘Adi Kailash’ road, named as 5 bend location where a big threat of debris sliding is imminent during monsoon. “The BRO officers have informed of taking action to treat the area before monsoon reached in this part of Himalayas,” said the DDMO.

According to sources in Dharchula, all 7 persons have died at Lamari point 2 years ago when a heavy boulder fell on their vehicle they were travelling in.” The boulders those have surfaced after cutting of road from Ghatiabagar to Lipulekh in 2020, are stuck on steep hills and tend to fall on the roads due to rains,snow or seismic activity ,”said Shalu Datal, the resident of Dharchula.

The concerned citizens of Dharchula have demanded that a special project be sanctioned by Government of India, to remove these boulders from steep hills at both sides of border roads, to make the pilgrims, tourists, security forces and local villagers free from fear of sudden occurence of boulder and landslides. “As the number of ‘Adi Kailash’ pilgrims and tourists those visit Panchachuli based in Darma, has increase several times, we need to give security to these pilgrims froming shooting boulders and landslides from these hill slopes,” said Bhupendra Singh Thapa, president of Dharchula Vyapar Mandal.