SOLAN, NOV 28 — A decades-old abandoned building near the Old Bus Stand–Chambaghat road has turned into a safe hideout for drug addicts, sparking alarm among residents who are demanding its immediate demolition.
The building, earlier known as Tourism Bangla and owned by the Tourism Department, was declared unsafe months ago. Yet it remains standing in a state of ruin, with suspicious activity reported regularly.
A police team recovered injections, bottles, biscuits and other drug paraphernalia after locals complained of movement at odd hours, confirming that the structure had become a refuge for addicts.
Residents say the building poses both a structural risk—as it could collapse any time—and a social threat, with fears of rising crime and the safety of children in the neighbourhood.
Ward No. 5 councillor Amardeep Panja, who recently noticed a foul smell from the site and alerted civic officials, said staff found dirty blankets along with a large quantity of syringes and bottles inside. Police later recovered more drug-related items during a search.
Panja has urged the administration to act swiftly and remove the building before it becomes the site of a major tragedy.
