Five-Storey Building Fails Amidst Road Construction in Himachal

A five-storey building in Shimla's Bhattakufar area collapsed on June 30, 2025, following a prolonged period of heavy rainfall. The incident occurred on the road leading to Chamiyana Super Specialty Hospital and, according to local authorities, is being investigated for potential links to ground instability associated with nearby highway widening works.

Preliminary observations revealed significant cracks in the building prior to the collapse. As a precaution, the structure had been evacuated the night before, preventing loss of life. The surrounding buildings, several of which have developed structural distress, were also evacuated to mitigate risk. At least ten families have since been relocated to safer accommodations, with structural assessments underway to determine long-term habitability.

From a geotechnical perspective, the suspected cause appears to be a weakening of subsoil due to mechanical excavation during ongoing four-lane highway construction. Heavy machinery used for stone extraction near residential foundations is being examined as a possible contributing factor of the soil mass, especially under the influence of intense rainfall. While a formal inquiry is pending, the event has prompted renewed calls for detailed slope stability assessments and subsurface investigations prior to infrastructure development in hilly regions.

Visual evidence circulating on social media shows the building collapsing within seconds, accompanied by vertical cracks and rapid ground movement. Residents have expressed concern regarding excavation practices and have requested accountability from the project stakeholders. Authorities have committed to investigating the technical causes and are continuing relief and rehabilitation efforts in the affected area.

Officials and experts have described the incident as a reminder of the geotechnical challenges involved in infrastructure expansion within seismically active and topographically complex areas.

Check out the following video discussing the Five-Storey Building Collapse.