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Multi-Storey Building Collapse in Shimla Puts Question Mark on Town Planning and Construction Laws
Shimla-The collapse of a building in Shimla’s Ghora Chowki area has again raised questions over town planning and construction laws. On Thursday evening, an eight-storey building collapsed like a deck of cards within a few seconds and also turned two more buildings located below it into rubble. Videos of this building collapse went viral on social media and were also picked up by national media.
The scene created panic among onlookers, especially the people residing in the nearby buildings. A hotel – Hari Palace- located right behind the building is also at risk now.
According to the State Disaster Management Authority, the building, named Darshan Cottage, belonged to Gurmeet Singh – a local businessman. One of the two other buildings which were damaged were known as Nirmala Bhatt and Narayan Cottage. Both buildings were two-storied. The HPSDMA said the loss was estimated to be around Rs 6 crores.
The HPSDMA informed that the Darshan cottage housed six families, namely of Guruvachan Singh, Gurmeet Singh, KR Sharma, Rajeev Sood, Narayan Singh, and Vicky Sood.
The Narayan Cottage housed Ashok Kumar, Babu Ram, and Bhisham Dutt.
The affected persons were given an immediate relief of Rs. 10, 000, the district administration informed. Temporary alternate arrangements have been made to provide shelter to these families which were rendered homeless.
While the building crumbled within seconds, its foundation had started to gave way a couple of days back. The house had also developed cracks about a week ago, and therefore, it was already evacuated. No person was present inside the building when it collapsed. Similarly, the buildings below it were also evacuated as a precautionary measure. Reports said that the hotel owner was also asked to evacuate the building, but he had refused to do so.
At the time of the collapse, the Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, Aditya Negi and Deputy Mayor, Shailender Chauhan, were also present at the spot along with a team of fire services.
Later, the Town and Country Planning Minister, Suresh Bhardwaj, also visited the spot and said an inquiry would be conducted to ascertain whether the structure was legal or not.
Some reports said that the area, which is also known as Kachi Ghati, falls in a sinking zone. Despite that, a large number of multi-storey buildings have come up on this steep slope. Some speculated that a large number of these buildings were illegal and built without obtaining necessary permissions from the authorities.
About half a dozen other buildings located on this steep slope were also said to have developed cracks and could crumble anytime.
Though the exact cause of the collapse was yet to be ascertained, the initial reports said that eight stories were built on a weak foundation and on a fragile slope. Moreover, seepage of water from the buildings located above it had weakened the foundation further.
Questions are being raised as to how the construction of eight stories was allowed in a sinking zone.
Solan—In a shocking incident on Monday, an 18-year-old youth, Pravesh, survived a vicious leopard attack in Sarli village of Arki subdivision. The teenager reportedly fought the leopard for nearly 12 minutes before breaking its jaw, killing the animal on the spot.
Quick Thinking Saved His Life
Pravesh told the media that he was walking from the fields to a nearby shop in the morning to fetch milk when the leopard, hidden in the crops, lunged at him. Noticing the leopard’s tail, he attempted to run but fell after a short distance. During the attack, he covered his neck with his hands to protect himself from fatal bites.
The teenager continued to struggle with the leopard, repeatedly attempting to put distance between himself and the predator. In a desperate move, he grabbed the leopard by its mouth, twisted its jaw, and broke it, killing the animal instantly. Pravesh sustained multiple injuries, including deep claw marks, and is currently receiving treatment at Arki Hospital. Police and forest department teams have launched an investigation into the incident.
Serious Allegations of HP Forest Department’s Negligence
One of Pravesh’s relatives accused the forest department of negligence, noting that similar attacks had occurred in the area previously.
Earlier, a leopard had attempted to attack a scooter rider, who managed to escape. The family said they had informed the forest department on March 6 about potential danger, but no concrete action was taken. Villagers waited for three hours for a forest team to arrive, but none came. When the Block Officer eventually visited, he reportedly told villagers to ensure their own safety. Requests for cages to capture the leopard were also denied, with officials asking for written complaints instead.
SHIMLA | 7 August 2025 –The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall across Himachal Pradesh over the next two weeks, with isolated heavy to very heavy showers likely over the low hills, plains, and adjoining mid-hill regions. While the ongoing monsoon remains vital for agriculture, it also brings an elevated risk of localized flooding and landslides.
Week of August 8–14
Maximum temperatures will range from 22°C to 34°C, depending on elevation—22°C to 28°C in high hills, 26°C to 30°C in mid-hills, and up to 34°C in lower regions. Minimum temperatures are expected to remain near normal, between 12°C and 24°C. Cooler conditions may persist in districts like Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti.
Week of August 15–21
Similar rainfall patterns are expected to continue, with scattered heavy rain episodes. Temperature trends will remain stable, though slightly below-normal maximum temperatures are likely in parts of Lahaul-Spiti, Mandi, Kangra, and Kullu districts.
Outlook for Late August
Rainfall is expected to remain broadly normal, with region-specific variations. Districts such as Kinnaur, Shimla, and Sirmaur may see below-normal precipitation, while Una, Kangra, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, and Solan are likely to receive above-average rainfall. Both maximum and minimum temperatures are forecast to stay close to seasonal norms.
Officials at the Meteorological Centre in Shimla have urged residents and local authorities to remain alert for sudden heavy downpours, which could disrupt road connectivity and trigger landslides—especially along vulnerable hillside routes. Past monsoon episodes have blocked key highways, including routes between Mandi and Kullu and near Banjar, underscoring the ongoing challenges in the region.
This advisory comes as Himachal Pradesh continues to face the dual pressures of sustaining its agriculture-dependent economy while managing the life and infrastructure risks posed by an active monsoon. Continued vigilance and preparedness remain crucial.
SHIMLA | 7 August 2025 –Himachal Pradesh continues to deal with the impacts of the 2025 monsoon season, reporting extensive property damage, loss of lives, and widespread disruptions across the state. According to the official reports from the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), the Department of Revenue, and the India Meteorological Department, from June 20 to August 6, 2025, heavy monsoon rains caused significant damage across multiple districts:
- Casualties: 199 deaths due to landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, drowning, lightning, electrocution, and accidents; 304 injuries reported.
- Property Loss: Extensive damage to houses (both pucca and kaccha), shops, factories, labor sheds, animal shelters, and substantial crop losses in agriculture and horticulture.
- Public Infrastructure: Over ₹1,900 crore in damages to roads (including PWD), power supply, health, education, fisheries, rural and urban development, and animal husbandry.
Most affected districts include Mandi, Kangra, and Hamirpur, with severe crop and infrastructure losses.
Additionally, 91 deaths occurred due to monsoon-related road accidents.
Public Utilities and Infrastructure Disruptions
The SEOC report dated August 7, 2025, highlights ongoing disruptions:
- Roads Blocked: About 493 major roads and 3 national highways (NH-305, NH-21, NH-05) remain blocked by landslides and floods.
- Power Supply: Disruption of 1,120 distribution transformers (DTRs).
- Water Supply: 245 water schemes affected, threatening access to potable water for communities.
Key blockages include NH-21 between Mandi and Kullu and NH-305 near Banjar and Jhed.
Weather Forecast and Warnings
The India Meteorological Department’s forecast valid from August 7, 2025, includes:
- Isolated heavy rainfall expected throughout the week.
- Thunderstorms and lightning predicted in isolated areas.
- Minimum temperatures near normal or slightly below.
- Maximum temperatures showing a moderate increase.
The public is urged to remain vigilant due to the risks of further landslides and flash floods.
Himachal Pradesh remains vulnerable as the monsoon season continues, with thousands affected by damage, displacement, and disruption of essential services. Authorities are continuing with rescue and recovery operations and are urging residents to stay alert to the ongoing adverse weather. This situation highlights the pressing need for enhanced infrastructure and disaster management strategies to mitigate monsoon-related risks.
Himachal’s LPG Supply Hit Amid Global Tensions, Likely to Affect Hospitality Industry
Himachal Teen Survives 12-Minute Leopard Attack, Kills Predator in Self-Defense
Weather Forecast for Himachal Pradesh For the Next Two Weeks
Monsoon 2025: Himachal Pradesh Suffers 199 Casualties, Over ₹1,905.50 Cr in Damages
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