Nainital, May 5 (PTI) A massive boulder crashed down a hillside and flattened a parked car in Nainital’s Tallital area, forcing the emergency evacuation of 25 families as panic gripped the neighbourhood, officials said Tuesday.
According to the officials, the incident occurred in the Krishnapur area on Monday evening. The rock completely crushed the vehicle, while smaller stones knocked a scooter and a motorcycle into a deep gorge.
No casualties were reported as no one was present at the spot during the incident, the officials said.
Residents said the boulder narrowly missed hitting several houses further downhill.
Anil Singh Rawat, a resident, said the construction work in the area likely loosened the boulder. He said that nearly 4,000 families live in the area, and school children frequently use this path.
Another resident, Pankaj Chaudhary, claimed that workers had earlier drilled into the boulder but left the task unfinished and the rock unstable.
The administration shifted around 25 families to a school as a precautionary measure.
Tehsildar Akshay Bhatt is supervising the temporary shelter where food and stay arrangements have been provided for the displaced families, officials added.
Nainital Sub-Divisional Magistrate Nawazish Khalik said families will return after all hazardous rocks are safely dismantled and the area is declared safe. PTI COR DPT AKY VN VN
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