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Key Points

Families in Shimla’s Bhattakufar area remain stranded 20 days after their homes collapsed due to alleged NHAI excavation work. Despite CM assurances, no rent assistance or rehabilitation has reached affected residents. The incident adds to Himachal’s monsoon crisis, with 119 deaths and ₹1,234 crore in damages. Locals demand either permanent relocation or NHAI acquisition of their unsafe properties.

Key Points: Shimla Families Await Aid 20 Days After Bhattakufar House Collapse

  • Residents blame NHAI highway work for hillside instability
  • 119 rain-related deaths reported in Himachal since June
  • CM promised rent aid but no relief delivered yet
  • 293 homes destroyed in monsoon-related incidents
3 min read

20 days on, Bhattakufar families still await government assistance after house collapse

Shimla residents demand justice as NHAI-linked house collapse leaves families homeless without compensation or rehabilitation from the government.

"Our house is cracked... I go every day just to check if it’s still standing. – Jayant, affected resident"

Shimla, July 19

More than 20 days after a building collapsed due to heavy rainfall in Bhattakufar, on the outskirts of Shimla, affected families continue to live in uncertainty without rehabilitation, without compensation, and without clarity.

Six buildings were vacated following the June 30 incident, but residents claim that despite visits by top state officials, including the Chief Minister, they have received no financial or logistical support to date.

Speaking to ANI, Jayant, a resident whose house has been declared unsafe, said that the residents are still waiting for justice.

"It happened around 8:30 AM on June 30th. My family was at home when the adjacent building collapsed. Cracks developed in our house. Since then, we've been forced to live in a rented room with six people. The SDM marked five houses in the area as part of a danger zone, yet we have received no relief," he said.

"The Chief Minister had assured us that rent assistance of around ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 would be provided by the state government. We were also promised that the matter would be taken up with NHAI, and compensation would be secured from the agency or the contractor. But nothing has happened yet. Even NHAI has not clarified anything," he added.

Jayant's house stands on a dangerously unstable slope. A massive 500-foot vertical ditch has formed behind the property; which residents say is a result of ongoing highway widening work by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) as part of the Shimla-Paratoo four-lane expansion project. Locals allege that the excavation weakened the hillside, leading to the collapse.

"Our house is cracked. Concrete has been poured to stabilise it temporarily, but it's not safe to live in. I go every day just to check if it's still standing. The foundation is shaken. I don't think it can be lived in again," Jayant said.

Despite an FIR filed with the police and local administrative acknowledgement of danger, families remain in limbo. Residents have requested that either their entire locality be acquired by NHAI or that permanent rehabilitation be provided.

119 people have died in rain-related incidents in Himachal since June 20. 70 deaths were directly due to landslides, cloudbursts, or house collapses. 49 fatalities occurred in road accidents, 146 roads remain blocked across the state,28 power transformers are non-functional, and 58 water supply schemes are disrupted. So far, 293 homes have been destroyed and 91 homes partially damaged.

The cumulative financial loss due to the monsoon havoc now stands at ₹1,234.98 crore, with widespread damage reported to roads, public utilities, agriculture, houses, and livestock.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
NHAI projects always compromise safety for speed. Same story across India - poor planning, no concern for locals. My heart goes out to these families living in constant fear 😔
A
Aman W
While I sympathize with the victims, we must also ask why people build houses on unstable slopes. Himachal needs better urban planning regulations to prevent such tragedies.
S
Sarah B
Visiting disaster sites for photo ops won't help, Mr. CM! These people need immediate relief funds and proper rehabilitation. 20 days is too long to wait for basic assistance.
K
Kavya N
This monsoon has been brutal for Himachal 😥 First the floods, now this. Where are all those disaster management funds going? People are suffering while politicians make empty promises.
V
Vikram M
NHAI should be held fully accountable. Their contractors cut corners in hill projects, destabilizing entire areas. Time for strict penalties and proper compensation!

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