KULLU, Himachal Pradesh — In the wake of relentless rains, eight buildings in the Anni area of Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh, which had previously developed structural cracks and were deemed unsafe, collapsed on Thursday. Despite the dramatic scene of dust and debris clouds, fortunately, no casualties were reported. These buildings, which accommodated various businesses including shops and banks, had shown signs of distress several days prior, as stated by Naresh Verma, the Sub Divisional Magistrate of Anni who was present at the site.
The structures had been declared hazardous and evacuated recently, as confirmed by Verma. Authorities are presently evaluating the extent of the damage. As a precautionary measure, other unsafe buildings along National Highway 305 in Anni have also been cleared.
Tragedy has struck Himachal Pradesh repeatedly this month, with rain-related incidents claiming the lives of 120 individuals. Since the monsoon’s onset on June 24, a total of 238 people have lost their lives, while 40 individuals remain missing. This monsoon season has brought three significant episodes of heavy rainfall to Himachal Pradesh. The first, occurring on July 9 and 10, led to widespread destruction in Mandi and Kullu districts. The second, on August 14 and 15, impacted Shimla and Solan districts, while the third, during Tuesday night, dealt heavy damage to Shimla city.
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Chief Minister, announced on Wednesday that a sum of Rs 165.22 crore had been disbursed to deputy commissioners and various departments across the state to aid in the restoration of the damaged infrastructure. He estimated the state’s losses due to the incessant rains to be around Rs 10,000 crore.
