Shimla: Torrential rains in Himachal Pradesh have triggered yet another landslide, this time in Shimla’s Benmore locality near Ramchandra Chowk. The incident, which occurred late on Monday night, forced the evacuation of over 30 families and caused widespread panic among residents.
The landslide, which struck around 10:30 pm, continued with repeated soil and tree collapses until midnight. The slide disrupted electricity, water supply, and road connectivity, further aggravating hardships in the state capital, which has been grappling with heavy rainfall for over a week.
Access to the Jakhu road has been completely cut off, leaving several families stranded. Residents said cracks had appeared on the stretch nearly two weeks ago, but the situation deteriorated rapidly on Monday night.
Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, who resides in the affected Ramchandra Chowk area, visited the site and lashed out at the government’s preparedness. “The retaining wall built last year at a cost of Rs 70 lakh has already collapsed. Both upper and lower settlements are now under severe threat. Even ambulances cannot reach the spot as the road is fully blocked,” he said.
Locals echoed his concerns, claiming that early warning signs were ignored. “Cracks started appearing 15–20 days ago, but no action was taken. Yesterday, the situation became alarming. By evening, we saw the cracks had widened drastically. Around 9:30 pm, some families shifted out, and by 10 pm, the landslide began. It went on till 11:30 pm, bringing down trees,” said resident Kamal Krishan Sharma.
Sharma added that families are now seeking temporary shelters, as rainwater seepage and soil movement have weakened existing retaining structures, posing a grave risk to homes above and below the road.
Meanwhile, district authorities said clearance work is underway, but persistent rains and fragile slopes are hampering operations. Officials also confirmed that the matter has been raised in the ongoing Assembly session, as multiple districts including Mandi, Kullu, and Chamba face similar threats from landslides this monsoon.
