Landslides Threaten Homes in Shimla as Heavy Rain Continues; Yellow Alert Issued

Heavy rainfall has triggered landslides in Shimla's Sanjauli area, putting several residential buildings at risk and creating panic among local residents. A major landslide occurred on Saturday in the Bothwell area near the Government College in Sanjauli, where a large quantity of debris fell from the hillside. Following the incident, a team from the district administration, along with officials from other concerned departments, reached the site to assess the situation. Another landslide was reported from Rajhana village in Shimla, where several vehicles parked along the roadside were damaged. However, no casualties have been reported in either incident. According to officials, the landslide involved a large volume of rocks, boulders and debris that crashed onto the road, partially burying several vehicles under the rubble. The district administration has started debris clearance operations with the assistance of other departments to restore normal conditions in the affected area. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall is expected to continue across Himachal Pradesh. The Meteorological Centre has issued a yellow weather alert for Saturday for the districts of Shimla, Kullu, Chamba, Bilaspur and Sirmaur, forecasting moderate to heavy rainfall at isolated places. The weather office has also warned of possible waterlogging in low-lying areas, disruptions to traffic, slippery road conditions and temporary interruptions to essential local services. Residents have been advised to avoid visiting vulnerable locations and areas near rivers, streams and other water bodies until weather conditions improve.