Five-Storey Building Collapses in Shimla’s Bhattakufar; No Casualties Reported

Shimla, June 30:
Continuous heavy rainfall since last night has triggered multiple landslides across the city, with a major incident reported this morning from the Mathu Colony area of Bhattakufar in Shimla. A five-storey building collapsed entirely after the ground beneath it gave way. Fortunately, the building had been vacated as a precaution the previous night, preventing any loss of life.

According to local residents, cracks had been appearing in the building for a long time, which they attribute to the ongoing four-lane highway construction nearby. They allege that the construction activity had weakened the soil structure, ultimately leading to the collapse. The incident has now raised concerns over the safety of adjacent buildings, which may also be at risk.

Panic has gripped the area, with several families beginning to evacuate their homes. Residents are urging the administration to take immediate action to provide relief and ensure their safety. They claim that repeated warnings were given to the authorities about the potential risk, but no preventive steps were taken in time.

Adding to the frustration, no administrative officials had reached the site even several hours after the collapse, drawing criticism from local residents. People have accused the highway construction agencies of negligence, stating that the disaster could have been averted with timely safety measures.

In the meantime, residents are evacuating at their own risk amid continued heavy rainfall, and the threat of further landslides looms large. There is growing demand for swift administrative intervention and support.