Shimla House Collapse Caught On Camera Amid Heavy Rain: Red Alert Issued in Himachal Pradesh
Shimla’s Rain Horror: 5-Storey House Crashes Like a Stack of Cards
In a shocking incident caught on camera, a five-storey house in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, collapsed on Monday following relentless rainfall and landslides. The dramatic video of the building, Raj Niwas, crashing down like a stack of cards has gone viral, sparking concerns about construction practices and the region’s vulnerability during the monsoon season.
Thankfully, there were no casualties as the building had been evacuated just a night before the disaster. The owner, Anjana Verma, shared that continuous rain and visible cracks in the structure prompted them to leave the building. She blamed the construction of a nearby four-lane road, saying it had weakened the foundation of her house over time.
Cracks Ignored, Warnings Unheard
The village’s deputy head, Yashpal Verma, echoed these concerns. He said the cracks had appeared last year and claimed that the construction company responsible for the nearby road ignored repeated complaints. “Not just this house, but other buildings in the area are also at risk,” he warned, calling for urgent action before more tragedies unfold.
⚠️ Red Alert Across Himachal
The Shimla collapse is just one of many incidents triggered by heavy rainfall across Himachal Pradesh. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a Red Alert for extremely heavy rainfall in 10 out of 12 districts:
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Shimla
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Bilaspur
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Hamirpur
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Kangra
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Mandi
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Solan
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Sirmaur
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Una
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Kullu
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Chamba
The Met Department has also warned of:
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Landslides
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Waterlogging
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Road blockages
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Damage to vulnerable buildings
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Disruption in transport and essential services
🚧 Damage to Roads and Railways
Rain-triggered landslides have caused widespread disruptions:
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Over 129 roads have been closed across the state.
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Sirmaur and Mandi districts are worst affected, with 57 and 44 road closures, respectively.
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A landslide near Koti on the Shimla-Kalka national highway led to a 2-3 km long traffic jam for hours.
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Train services on the UNESCO heritage Shimla-Kalka railway line were suspended after trees and boulders fell on the tracks near Solan.
📚 Schools Closed in High-Risk Areas
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed officials in the affected districts to close schools on Monday as a precaution. This applies particularly to:
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Kangra
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Mandi
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Sirmaur
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Solan
The state government is on high alert and has urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, especially in landslide-prone zones.
🛑 The Bigger Question: Are We Ignoring Nature's Warnings?
The Shimla building collapse has reignited the debate around unchecked construction and infrastructure projects in the fragile Himalayan region. With climate change leading to more intense rainfall, experts are urging stricter regulation and planning.
Locals say the current situation is a wake-up call. As natural disasters become more frequent, there’s a pressing need to balance development with environmental safety.
Stay Safe:
If you’re in Himachal Pradesh or planning a visit, keep an eye on official weather updates, avoid travel during red alerts, and stay away from hilly roads during heavy rain.