Munish Sood
MANDI: A massive landslide struck Balichowki in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh late Friday (August 22, 2025) night, bringing down a sprawling 30-room building in the town’s main market. The structure, owned by Bali Ram and Beeri Singh, collapsed within seconds in a chilling incident captured on video.
No casualties were reported as the administration had evacuated the building and adjoining houses a day earlier after fresh cracks and land subsidence were observed.
The structure comprised eight shops and dozens of rented rooms, where more than 60 families and over 40 shopkeepers lived and worked. Following Wednesday’s onset of fresh land sinking in the area, dangerous fissures appeared in at least 13 houses, prompting officials to vacate 19 homes in total.
While some household belongings were retrieved, much remains trapped under the debris. Residents are currently housed in temporary relief camps and alternate accommodations arranged by the administration.
“Timely evacuation ensured that there was no loss of life. Relief and rehabilitation are being extended to all affected families,” said Balichowki SDM Devi Chand.
Impact on connectivity and daily life
The landslide has also destroyed key connecting roads to Sharsh, Khalao and Rahi villages, with children unable to reach schools and local markets being cut off.
This is not the first such disaster in the region. In 2023, six houses were destroyed near the Nag Temple in Balichowki following a similar episode of land subsidence. Experts warn that the 1-km-long slope composed of fragile and loosely bound rocks and continues to sink gradually.
The Balichowki incident is part of a broader wave of monsoon-triggered devastation across Himachal Pradesh. According to government reports, over 300 roads, including sections of the Chandigarh-Manali highway and Manali-Leh route, remain blocked by landslides. Power and water supply networks have suffered widespread damage.
Since late June, Mandi district alone has witnessed multiple cloudbursts, flashfloods and landslides, resulting in significant infrastructure losses and dozens of fatalities across the state.
Demand for geotechnical study, long-term planning
Geologists and local activists have repeatedly called for a comprehensive geotechnical survey of the Balichowki hillside. They argue that hazard mapping, slope stabilisation and planned resettlement are critical to preventing repeated displacement of families.
The residents, already displaced multiple times since 2023, demand compensation and permanent relocation. Many allege that infrastructure projects and unchecked urban expansion have worsened the natural vulnerability of the terrain.
