5-storey house collapses at Dhami near Shimla, owner blames hill excavation for construction of new building

The Newz Radar
SHIMLA: A five-storeyed building collapsed at Marahwag village in Dhami area near Shimla on Saturday (January 20, 2024), causing damage to a road leading to the Government Degree College and disrupting traffic movement.
According to information, no loss of life was reported in the incident as the authorities had successfully evacuated all residents in advance. The electric connections to the building too had been disconnected.
The collapse occurred around noon at 16 Miles, Marahwag village. The house was owned by a local resident, Raj Kumar. It had developed cracks as the road and the land beneath it sank, leading to cracks in its base columns, according to officials familiar with the situation. In anticipation of the building’s collapse, proactive measures had been taken to evacuate residents, preventing potential loss of life and property.
The aftermath of the collapse also impacted the road leading to the Government Degree College at Dhami, causing partial damage and disrupting traffic flow in the vicinity.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Rural) Nishant Tomar attributed the building collapse to excavation work in the hilly area for the construction of a house. The authorities are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the excavation work and its potential contribution to the structural failure.
“The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilant monitoring of construction activities in hilly terrains to prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future. The authorities are urging residents and construction stakeholders to adhere to safety protocols to ensure the stability of structures in the region,” said an official.
Several such instances of buildings collapsing were witnessed during the monsoon in July-August last year, leading to several casualties.