Several families in Shakrala village near Shimla are worried about their safety as the hillside around their homes continues to sink. Cracks have appeared in houses and walls, raising fears that the situation could worsen.
The affected area is part of the Shakrala-Malyana region. Residents said the ground has been slowly giving way for several years, but the problem has become worse during the monsoon. They want the administration to carry out a detailed soil and geological study and find a lasting solution through proper engineering and drainage work.
Residents said around 100 to 150 houses are located in the larger affected area. They said cracks keep developing in homes and walls, forcing families to spend significant amounts on repeated repairs.
Local resident Ram Krishna Sharma said the land has been sinking continuously for the past two to three years.
“For the last two to three years, the ground has been going down steadily. Cracks appear repeatedly. We repair them, but they come back after some time. We still do not know what is causing it. It could be the four-lane construction, rainwater from roofs or wastewater from toilets,” he said.
Sharma said an official team had visited the area after residents raised the issue with the administration. However, no clear explanation for the land movement has emerged so far.
“We informed the administration and a team also came to inspect the area. But we are still waiting for a clear answer on why the land keeps sinking,” he said.
Sharma said he had already spent around Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh on repairs, but the cracks continued to return.
“I have spent another Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh on repairs. We fix the cracks, but they appear again and we have to spend more money. Almost every family here is dealing with the same problem,” he said. He said residents were especially anxious during periods of heavy rain.
“We want the government to find a permanent solution and identify the reason behind the sinking. We have put our life savings into these homes. If the houses keep getting damaged, we should also receive compensation,” he said.
Another resident, Gulab Singh, said he had noticed the problem since around 2010 and feared that it could become more serious. "We have been dealing with this for years. I have a four-storey house with a fifth-floor roof, and there is always a fear that something could go wrong. We keep repairing the damage. There has already been a lot of damage in the lower area, and now the ground here has also started sinking,” Singh said. Singh said families were increasingly worried about their safety and some had even considered moving elsewhere.
“We are certainly scared. People at home tell me that we should leave this place, but what can we do? We have invested everything here. For now, we are staying as long as it is possible,” he said.
Residents said they could not point to one definite reason for the land movement. However, they claimed that the problem had become more serious after four-lane road construction began nearby.
Another resident said cracks were present earlier but became wider after the four-lane work started. “The cracks were there before, but after the cutting work for the four-lane road began, they became almost twice as wide. Wastewater from our houses is another issue. We cannot say the road project alone caused the problem, but the cracks became much wider after the work began. Heavy rain has made things worse,” the resident said.
Priya Chauhan, another resident, said the uncontrolled flow of wastewater and rainwater was a major concern. “The wastewater flowing openly is one of the main reasons for the cracks in our houses. Rainwater is also flowing without proper drainage. Since excavation for the four-lane project began two to three years ago, the cracks have increased,” Chauhan said.
She said residents had collectively spent around Rs 7 lakh to Rs 8 lakh to improve drainage and redirect wastewater.
“We have spent at least Rs 7 lakh to Rs 8 lakh ourselves to deal with wastewater and rainwater. Some families have installed pipes and diverted the water, but several houses are still not connected,” she said.
Chauhan said the problem was worse in houses located further downhill. Residents have reported cracks in walls as well as sinking basements and floors.
“Almost every house is affected. The homes closer to the road have fewer cracks, but the damage becomes more visible as you move downhill. Our basement is also sinking,” she said.
Recalling last year’s heavy rains, Chauhan said some families had to spend nights outside their homes because they feared for their safety.
“Last year, when the rainfall was very heavy, the cracks became much bigger. We spent entire nights outside on the road. Even though the rain has been relatively less this year, we are still scared because the cracks have not gone away,” she said.
Chauhan said residents had contacted officials and engineers and were advised to control wastewater to prevent further damage.
“A few months ago, we called engineers working on the four-lane project. They told us that the entire stretch from the road towards the lower area was experiencing settlement. They advised us to control the wastewater as soon as possible. We then started installing pipelines at our own expense,” she said.
She added that residents had also been told that drainage or sewerage pipelines would be laid in the area. However, the promised work has not yet started.
Residents are now seeking a scientific soil and geological study, proper drainage and engineering measures. They have also demanded compensation for damage to their homes. They fear continued land movement during the monsoon could weaken the structures further and put lives and property at risk. With cracks continuing to appear and the hillside gradually settling, residents say they are being forced to use their savings for repeated repairs while remaining unsure about the safety of their homes.
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