Jagran Correspondent, Shimla: Heavy rainfall across Himachal Pradesh has disrupted normal life, triggering landslides, blocking roads, and causing power outages in several districts, including Shimla and Chamba.
In Shimla’s Lower Panthaghati area, visible cracks have appeared on a hillside, forcing residents to evacuate homes amid fears of a possible landslide.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, and Chamba for Saturday, warning of continued rainfall and the possibility of localized weather-related incidents.
Hillside Cracks Raise Safety Concerns
Continuous rainfall over the past few days has weakened the hillside in Lower Panthaghati, where fresh cracks have emerged, creating panic among residents. Fearing a sudden slope collapse, authorities evacuated a flat and a nearby house on Friday as a precautionary measure.
Around 10 buildings in the locality are reportedly at risk, with residents anxiously awaiting a detailed assessment of the hillside’s stability.
Administration Stops Construction Activities
Following reports of the developing cracks, SDM (Rural) Manjeet Sharma visited the site to assess the situation. After inspecting the affected area, he directed officials to immediately suspend all construction and excavation work nearby.
The SDM said the evacuation was undertaken solely as a precaution to ensure the safety of residents while the administration continues to monitor the situation.
Residents Blame Excavation Work
Locals have alleged that ongoing construction activity worsened the situation. Speaking to Jagran.com, resident Chetan Mehta claimed that excavation carried out by a contractor during the monsoon season had destabilized the hillside. According to him, inadequate safety measures during construction have put several families at risk.
Residents have demanded an impartial investigation into the incident and strict action against those found responsible if negligence is established.
Family Forced to Leave Home Bought with Life Savings
Among those affected is a local mechanic who had invested his entire life’s savings in purchasing a flat in the area. With the landslide threat intensifying, he has temporarily vacated the property to protect his family.
He said the house represented years of hard work and sacrifice, making the evacuation emotionally and financially devastating. Residents have urged the district administration to immediately deploy a team of geologists to examine the affected hillside.
IMD Issues Yellow Alert In Himachal
– July 25: Yellow alert for Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, and Chamba.
– July 26: Yellow alert for Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, Chamba, and Sirmaur.
– July 27: Yellow alert for Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, Chamba, Lahaul and Spiti, and Sirmaur.