Shimla Tunnel Blasting Leaves Families Homeless and Fearful in Freezing Cold
What was supposed to be a development project in Shimla’s Chalonthi has turned into a nightmare for residents. Continuous blasting during the construction of a four-lane tunnel has caused deep cracks in nearby homes, forcing families to evacuate in the middle of the night.
On Friday, a six-storey residential building had to be emptied urgently, leaving 15 families out in the freezing cold, waiting for safe shelter. Even a hotel full of tourists was evacuated. By late night, displaced families were shifted to Kisan Bhawan, but many say they spent hours on the roadside in fear and uncertainty.
Locals describe the ordeal vividly: “Our houses shook every night during blasting. Cracks appeared days ago, but no one from the company came to check. On Friday, they told us to leave immediately. We had no choice but to sit outside in the cold all night.”
The damage isn’t limited to homes. The Sanjauli-Dhalli bypass road has also developed major cracks, forcing police to shut it down for safety. Authorities have restricted traffic to one-way, allowing only light vehicles.
Government officials, including Panchayati Raj Minister Aniruddh Singh and Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap, visited the site, promising help and directing NHAI to provide immediate compensation. But residents remain angry, accusing the construction company and administration of negligence.
For many, the fear is not just about cracked walls but about losing homes built with a lifetime of savings. “We don’t know where to go in this cold. Our houses could collapse any moment,” said one distressed resident.
The tunnel project, meant to ease traffic, has instead left families displaced, roads damaged, and an entire community living in fear.
