Shimla landslides: Father recalls his 6-year-old daughter's haunting question 'Will we also die...?

Shimla: Amidst serene and picturesque landscapes of Himachal Pradesh, a relentless onslaught of nature's fury has cast a shadow of grief and devastation. The tranquil hills, once a haven of serenity, are now witnessing a heart-wrenching saga of landslides, crumbling homes, and lives shattered in an instant.

In the midst of this harrowing ordeal, one man's voice emerges, attempting to recount the indescribable terror that unfolded before his eyes in 'Queen of Hills' Shimla. “Will we also die, will our house too break, papa,” he recalled the words of his six-year-old daughter,  as the grim reality of the destructive downpour in Shimla unfolded on the occasion of Independence Day.

He recounted the frantic rush of his family as a thunderous roar reached their ears. "Echoes of screams filled the air as a hillside, merely a scant 100 meters away from our residence and separated by a stream, gave way. The heartbreaking scene unfolded as several multi-storey houses, along with makeshift shelters and even a slaughterhouse, were engulfed beneath the weight of the debris," he added.

"Startled by a deafening roar, our family quickly dashed outside. Piercing screams filled the air as the edge of a hill, situated a mere 100 meters from our abode and spanning across a ravine, gave way. Tragedy unfolded before our eyes as a pair of multi-storey residences, along with a collection of improvised dwellings and even a slaughterhouse, became entombed beneath the weight of the debris," he added.

He said their daughter was already upset when a landslide hit Krishnanagar. Two girls, studying in Nursery and Class 2 at her school, died when a landslip buried a Shiv temple in Summer Hill locality.

"However, the landslide closer to our residence weighed more heavily on our hearts, despite the fact that the number of casualties was significantly lower compared to the incident at the Shiv temple. The dwellings in Krishnanagar had started displaying ominous cracks, prompting most residents to evacuate hours prior to the disaster," he said.

"A few minutes later, as I arrived at the scene, anguished cries pierced the air from those who had been displaced from their homes. A distraught woman dashed about barefoot, desperately searching for her husband. Meanwhile, an employee from the slaughterhouse, located beneath the houses on the hillside, was frantically seeking his manager amidst the chaos," the man recalled. 

He vividly remembered the profound impact of the landslide, observing how not only those directly affected but also residents of neighbouring houses, which remained intact, were shaken to their core and began evacuating, clutching whatever belongings they could salvage. Amidst the turmoil, a young girl clung to a bag as tears streamed down her face, while a compassionate man shouldered the weight of his elderly mother to safety.

"I, too, departed to file a report. With my home-office plunged into darkness due to a power outage, a situation that persisted for two consecutive days along with several other areas in Shimla, I resorted to typing on my phone. Regularly, I had to connect it to the car charger to ensure its power supply," he recalled.

After enduring a relentless onslaught of rain for three consecutive days, Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, stands as a stark testament to widespread devastation. Numerous smaller landslides have occurred, while fallen trees and severed power lines now dot the city's landscape. The once-sturdy roads now bear visible cracks, and multiple buildings teeter on the brink of peril.

The encircling Cart Road, a lifeline for Shimla, has been rendered impassable due to two landslides, raising concerns over the potential collapse of some already vulnerable structures. Along the famous Mall Road, a notable absence of tourists is palpable.

Tragically, the death toll within Shimla district has climbed to 30. The state-wide casualties, spanning three days of relentless rainfall, surged past 70 by Wednesday, and the grim task of retrieving bodies trapped in the debris continues.

- With inputs from agencies

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