People remove mud and debris from a house damaged by landslip due to heavy rainfall, at Sanjauli, in Shimla, on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Continuous heavy rainfall over the past 36 hours has triggered a major landslide scare in Shimla's Sanjauli area, forcing residents of Bothwell Estate to remain outdoors since around 3 a.m. amid fears that their houses could collapse.Nearly 10 houses have been affected, with at least three homes facing an immediate threat due to the landslip. Residents alleged that construction activity continued in the area despite the monsoon construction ban imposed by authorities, and demanded strict action against the owner of the construction site.However, the landowner denied carrying out any construction during the past month, attributing the landslip to blocked drains and waterlogging. Local authorities have initiated a preliminary survey while the Municipal Corporation has assured residents that immediate protective measures, including covering the vulnerable slope with tarpaulins, will be undertaken.Residents say they have been living under fear for over a year. Speaking to ANI, resident Meera Kainthala said residents have been living under constant fear since a similar landslip struck the area last year. "We have been living under threat for nearly a year. On June 28 last year, my parents got trapped inside our house after a landslip. Mud and debris entered the house, and my sister-in-law and niece remained trapped for almost 24 hours. Despite repeatedly requesting the owner, Naresh, to adopt proper safety measures during construction, nothing was done," she said.
