4-storey commercial building collapses in Shimla district housing a bar and eatery; lucky escape for customers

Shimla, July 9

A four-storey commercial building housing two banks (UCO bank and land mortgage bank), a dhaba and a beer bar collapsed in Chopal area of Shimla district on Saturday as cracks developed in the foundation of the building. However no casualty was reported.

A major tragedy was averted as people sitting in the bar heard cracking sound and immediately informed the customers sitting in the bar and dhaba and within minutes the building was vacated. There were around 30-35 persons in the building when the foundation started caving in.

Sources maintained that the foundation of the building constructed in 2006 was weak and rain water was seeping into it. Luckily, it was a bank holiday and there were no employees in the bank as it was a second Saturday, otherwise evacuating people on the third floor would have been a daunting task, said Chopal SDM Chet Singh.

An immediate relief of Rs 15000 each has been given to the building, dhaba and bar owners, he said, adding that a committee would be constituted to analyse the status of buildings and ensure that they possess necessary permissions.

The local Met office has issued yellow warning of heavy rainfall, thunderstorm and lightning in low and mid hills for the next four days and predicted a wet spell in the region till July 15.