SHIMLA, June 30— A five-storey residential building in Shimla’s Bhattakuffar area collapsed on Monday evening, just hours after it was evacuated when structural cracks were observed amid heavy rain pounding the region. Officials confirmed that all occupants had been safely moved out earlier in the day, averting casualties.
The building, located in Mathu Colony along the road leading to the Chamyana Super Specialty Hospital, crumbled as continuous rainfall soaked the region for a second consecutive day. Panic spread among residents of neighboring buildings, many of which now face safety assessments by district authorities.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the ongoing four-lane highway construction in the vicinity may have destabilized the soil and weakened the building’s foundation. “We are currently evaluating nearby structures to ensure their integrity,” a local official said.
The collapse disrupted daily life in the area and brought renewed scrutiny to infrastructural developments in ecologically sensitive zones. At the nearby Bhattakuffar Fruit Mandi, operations remained suspended since Sunday after boulders and debris rolled down adjacent slopes. The mandi, damaged during a 2020 landslide, is yet to be fully restored.
Elsewhere in Shimla district, landslides were reported in Bothwell Estate near Sanjauli, as well as Panthaghati, Khalini, Krishna Nagar, Bharari, Chakkar, and Tutikandi. Though property was damaged, no injuries were reported. In Rampur tehsil, a cloudburst hit Sikaseri village, but officials confirmed there were no casualties.
The unfolding situation stirred grim reminders of the monsoon disaster of August 14, 2023, when a landslide at Summer Hill destroyed a temple and claimed 20 lives. The latest incidents underscore the region’s continued vulnerability to extreme weather during the monsoon season.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Una, Bilaspur, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur, and Solan. Isolated showers are also forecast in Shimla, Hamirpur, and Kullu. From July 1 to 3, a yellow alert remains in place for multiple districts, with the weather department warning of continued instability.
As a safety measure, schools have been closed in Kangra, Mandi, and Sirmaur districts.
State revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi confirmed that 34 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents across Himachal Pradesh since June 20. “The administration remains on alert as the rains continue. We urge residents to exercise extreme caution,” he said.
