Himachal: Anganwadi center destroyed by a rock during mining

March 10, 2026

A major accident was averted on Sunday at the Anganwadi center and primary school in the Namana ward of Kyar Panchayat in the Theog subdivision. During mining operations adjacent to the Namana primary school, a huge boulder rolled down and landed directly on the school premises, destroying the Anganwadi center adjacent to the school.

The primary school building was also damaged. Six students attend the Anganwadi center and over 20 attend the primary school. Fortunately, the school and Anganwadi center were closed on Sunday. Had this incident occurred during school hours, the lives of the children and staff could have been seriously endangered and a major disaster could have occurred. On Monday, when local women and parents arrived at the site to stop the mining work, the contractor and workers refused to stop. This sparked anger among the villagers and further increased concerns about the safety of the schoolchildren. The matter subsequently escalated to the administration.

The Deputy Tehsildar-cum-Executive Magistrate of Theog and the Station House Officer visited the site. Following this, the SDM issued an order to completely stop mining operations being carried out by the contractor. He also directed that all necessary steps be taken to strictly enforce this order and prevent any mining activity until further notice. He also directed the Mining Officer, Shimla, to inspect the site on Tuesday to verify the legality of the mining operations and compliance with safety standards.

A report on this action was submitted to the SDM office soon. The Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) of Theog and the Block Primary Education Officer (BEEO) of Deha were also directed to take immediate necessary steps to ensure the safety of the children and staff of the Anganwadi Center Namana and the Government Primary School Namana. Meanwhile, Rajesh, the Block Primary Education Officer of Deha Block, stated that the contractor has assured to compensate for the losses within ten days.