Five-storey building comes crashing down near Shimla

Shimla, January 20

A five-storey private building collapsed on Saturday at 16 Miles in Dhami on the Shimla-Bilaspur national highway, about 23 km from here.

According to information, no loss of life was reported as the building had been evacuated a week ago after being declared unsafe. The vehicular movement was stopped on the national highway as a precautionary measure when the incident occurred around 12.45 pm.

The building of Government Degree College is located right above the collapsed structure and the road leading to the institute has developed wide cracks. Though the exact reason behind the collapse is yet to be ascertained, onlookers said cutting of the hill on an adjoining plot could have triggered the incident. Even as no rain or snow has been experienced for the past several weeks, questions are being raised on the structural stability and foundation of the building.