Himachal Destruction: CM Denies Blaming 'Bihari Architects' For Faulty Constructions, Clarifies

Amid the destruction in Himachal, triggered by excessive rains and landslides, State Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu blamed rampant and faulty constructions in the hill state.

At least 70 people have died and more than 1,000 homes damaged in landslides and flash floods following heavy downpour in the state.

In an interview with the Indian Express, the Himachal CM said architects from outside are coming to the state and constructing floor on floor, without applying scientific methods.

“People construct houses without applying scientific methods. In recently made buildings, the drainage system is very poor. People believe they are draining the water without knowing that water is going nowhere but into the hills, making them fragile," he said.

He added that Shimla is more than one and a half century old, and its drainage system was excellent.

"Now there are buildings in the nallas (runlets). The houses which are collapsing these days have not gone through the standards of structural engineering," he said.

"The migrant architects (masons), whom I call ‘Bihari architects’, come here and construct floor on floor. We do not have local masons," the Himachal CM was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

Sukhu later clarified the alleged remark on 'Bihari architects' and said that he did not say anything like that.

"The people of Bihar are also stuck here. I got them evacuated by helicopters. Around 200 people from Bihar are still stuck here. They are like our brothers. It is the fault of our structural engineering, they are just labourers," the Himachal CM told news agency ANI.