Himachal CM Blames Bihari Architects For Shimla Destruction, Later Clarifies

The hill state of Himachal Pradesh has been battered by heavy rains since last week, causing widespread damage and loss of life. The death toll has risen to 71, with several people still missing.

The worst-hit areas are the Shimla district, where several landslides have been reported. In the century-old city of Shimla, several houses have collapsed, killing at least 20 people and leaving many more homeless.

In an exclusive interview with The Indian Express, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu initially pointed fingers at architects hailing from Bihar, colloquially termed "Bihari architects," for the house collapse incidents. He cited the construction of multiple floors by migrant architects as a contributing factor, highlighting the absence of local masons in the region.

However, he later offered a clarification, stating that his initial remarks were misconstrued. He denied making such statements and emphasized his support for those from Bihar who were affected by the calamity. Speaking to ANI, he shared, "I did not say anything as such. The people of Bihar were also stuck here. I got them evacuated by helicopters. Around 200 people from Bihar are still stuck here. They are like our brothers. It is the fault of our structural engineering, they are just labourers."

The death toll, a somber reminder of the state's ordeal, reached 71 as further bodies were retrieved. Principal Secretary (Revenue) Onkar Chand Sharma reported, "At least 71 people have died in the past three days and 13 are still missing. A total of 57 bodies have been recovered since Sunday night," according to PTI.

The region has been pummeled by relentless downpours since Sunday, triggering landslides in various districts, including Shimla. The areas of Summer Hill, Fagli, and Krishna Nagar have borne the brunt of these landslides.

As per the state's emergency operation center, the monsoon season, beginning on June 24, has led to 214 rain-related fatalities in the state, with an additional 38 individuals unaccounted for.

"Rescue operations are going on in Summer Hill and Krishna Nagar areas. A body was recovered from Summer Hill site," informed Shimla Deputy Commissioner Aditya Negi, adding that 13 bodies have been retrieved from Summer Hill, five from Fagli, and two from Krishna Nagar. There are concerns of bodies possibly remaining trapped in the debris of the collapsed Shiva temple in Summer Hill.

Amid the relentless rain, around 15 houses in Krishna Nagar have been vacated as a precaution, with families relocated to safer locales to evade potential landslides.