Shimla: The Himachal High Court on Tuesday served notice on the deputy commissioner Pathankot asking him to report about the problems that led to the washing away of an 83 year old railway bridge on Chakki River on the Pathankot-Jogindernagar narrow gauge rail line.
Besides the deputy commissioner of Pathankot, the deputy commissioner Kangra, chief engineer HPPWD National Highways, Executive engineer HPPWD Jogindernagar, senior divisional security commandant Northern Railways, Ferozpur division and mining officer Kangra have been asked to present themselves before the court on 28th December when the court again hears the case about washing away of bridge allegedly due to illegal mining taking place in the area.
Presided over by Chief Justice Kurian Joseph with Justice DD Sud, the division bench passed the orders on a public interest litigation take up suo moto based on a news report in a English daily which mentioned that the heritage bridge in August 2011 was washed away due to unscientific and indiscreet mining in Chakki river in Pathankot and Kangra districts. Northern railways have been asked to respond in the matter.
The bridge was once proposed to be declared a UNESCO heritage site and was providing vital connectivity to the narrow gauge trains running on Pathankot-Joginder Nagar rail track.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
