Illegal Excavation in Patna Sparks Safety Fears As District Officials Evacuate Homes
Authorities in Patna evacuated residents near Boring Road after a large, water-filled pit illegally excavated by a builder, posed structural risks to nearby homes. Acting on a late-night alert, district officials and NDRF teams secured the site and a three member committee has been formed to investigate regulatory violations.
Patna: Emergency action was taken late last night after Patna district authorities received reports of an illegally dug pit near the busy Boring Road crossing, close to Harilal Sweets, raising fears over the structural safety of nearby residential buildings.
According to officials, District Magistrate Shirsat Kapil Ashok was alerted by phone around 2am that a private builder had excavated a large pit adjacent to multiple homes, which had begun to fill with water due to recent rains. The excavation, reportedly done without proper safety measures, posed a serious risk to the foundations of nearby structures.
In response, the District Magistrate dispatched the Additional District Magistrate (Disaster Management) along with a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to the site. The teams reached the area during the night and began securing the location and assessing immediate threats.
By morning, the District Magistrate personally inspected the site, engaging with local residents and reviewing the condition of the affected properties. “People living in the adjacent houses were clearly feeling unsafe,” he said. “We have taken the precautionary step of evacuating the area to prevent any harm.”
Several small shops and additional residences in the vicinity have also been identified as at risk and were instructed to be vacated. Authorities have since cordoned off the area and imposed a security perimeter to prevent any incidents.
In a statement, the District Magistrate announced the formation of a three-member committee to investigate whether the builder had complied with the Building Bylaws, Disaster Management Act, and other applicable regulations. The committee, comprising the Additional District Magistrate (Disaster Management), the Additional Municipal Commissioner, and the Deputy Collector for Land Reforms (Patna Sadar), has been tasked with submitting a report. If violations are found, an FIR will be lodged and legal action initiated.
